Illinois Football Coach Bret Bielema Tests Positive For COVID-19

Chicago IL

16 November, 2021

11:02 AM

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CHAMPAIGN, IL — Illinois football coach Bret Bielema has had an up and down season in his first year at the helm of the Illini program. Now, his health will prevent him from being on the sidelines Saturday when Illinois travels to Iowa. Bielema said Tuesday he tested positive for a breakthrough case of the coronavirus after experiencing symptoms on Monday. Bielema, who is 4-6 and 3-4 in the Big Ten after taking over the program from Lovie Smith, said that he is fully vaccinated and received the COVID-19 booster last week. Bielema said in the statement released by the school that he established a protocol for anyone on his coaching staff – himself included – in the case they tested positive for COVID-19. "Our coaches and players have prepared for 10 games already this year and today's news will just be a continuation of that process," Bielema said. "Through technology, I will be as present as possible." Bielema said that assistant coach George McDonald will take over the head coaching duties in his absence. He said that the two have met to discuss options should Bielema test positive, and the first-year coach expressed trust in McDonald coaching the Illini this weekend against the No. 18-ranked Hawkeyes. "Our team has shown repeatedly this year that next man up is the standard not the exception and this will be another example of that mentality," Bielema said. The Illini, who have already knocked off Penn State in an epic nine-overtime 20-18 win, are coming off a 14-0 victory over Minnesota. Bielema, who was the head coach at Wisconsin and Arkansas before working as an NFL assistant with the New York Giants and New England Patriots over the past two years, signed a six-year contract at Illinois and is making $4.2 million per year. In a news conference via Zoom with reporters from his basement Tuesday afternoon, Bielema said he tested negative on Saturday before the positive test surfaced Monday night. According to Big Ten rules, Bielema will be permitted to be in contact with his team using technology up to 90 minutes before Saturday's kickoff against Iowa, his alma mater. "Everybody wanted to talk about me and this game, well I obliged everybody: I removed myself totally from this game, so now it truly is Illinois (against) Iowa and I'm out of the equation," Bielema said on the Zoom call with reporters Tuesday. "There's no doubt in my mind that it'll be probably one of the tougher things for me to see and witness, but I would also say I've really preached to our players: Don't worry about things you can't control. Bielema said he hopes to be in position to return to the sidelines for Illinois' regular season finale against Northwestern. He said so far, his symptoms have been very minor. "Unfortunately, we are reminded every day that this pandemic is not over," Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman said in a statement. "As with every other part of the program, Coach and the football staff have a plan for this contingency, and they began executing that overnight." Whitman said that the university's medical staff will continue to monitor the situation and is taking all precautions to ensure the limit the spread of the coronavirus within the program.