Illinois head coach Tim Beckman will return to the program next season, athletic director Mike Thomas told media Monday.
Tim Beckman to return as Illinois head coach, AD says
Staff changes are expected after a disappointing season.
Pat Lovell-USA TODAY Sports
Staff changes coming though we hear MT @WCIA3Matt: #Illini AD Mike Thomas just told me Tim Beckman will return as coach next season.
— FootballScoop Staff (@footballscoop) December 2, 2013 The Illini went 4-8 this season, Beckman's second with the program -- and that's double the amount of wins the Illini had in his first year with the school. In 2012, Illinois went 2-10 and winless in Big Ten play, and improvement does not appear to be rapid.
Illinois started the year 3-1, with an impressive non-conference blowout win over Cincinnati and a close loss to a very good Washington team, but things fell off the rails once conference play rolled around. The Illini lost their first six games in conference play, including a 52-35 defeat to Indiana, before finally getting in the win column against lowly Purdue. In its season finale, Illinois lost to in-state rival Northwestern, breaking the Wildcats’ seven-game losing streak.
Beckman was previously the head coach at Toledo, where he compiled a 21-16 record over three years.
More from SB Nation college football:
See More:
