Illini Football Coach Tim Beckman To Return in 2015

As improbable as it appeared a couple of weeks ago, Illinois football coach Tim Beckman will return to the sidelines in Champaign in 2015.

That news was released Sunday after the Fighting Illini won its final two games of the regular season to become bowl eligible at 6-6. Illini athletic director Mike Thomas made the final call:

It was important to see improvement in our football program this season. Over the last month, we have won three of our last five games, including a pair of Big Ten wins over teams (Minnesota & Penn State) who are headed to the postseason...It's my expectation that with the upcoming bowl and another off-season of development, that Tim's continued leadership will keep Fighting Illini Football moving forward and even more competitive in the conference and nationally.

Is it the right move? Beckman has improved each year he's been at the helm, from two wins to four to six. And following a terrible loss to Purdue there's no doubt something clicked with the squad. Defensively the team actually showed the ability to get a stop and appeared to be much improved against the run. Offensively things seems to fall into place with the insertion of senior Reilly O'Toole behind center.

Beckman has two years remaining on his current contract, meaning one of two things will happen after next year: a firing or an extension. No head coach can recruit with just a single year left on a deal. So while Beckman was given a reprieve, continued improvement will be necessary to stay at Illinois for the long-term.

Meanwhile, there's continued good news for the Fighting Illini basketball squad, which just cracked the AP Top 25 for the first time this season.