The University of Illinois says former NFL coach Lovie Smith will be named the next football coach at the University of Illinois.  Athletic Director Josh Whitman will annouce the former Chicago Bears coach as the Illini's 25th head coach at a Monday afternoon news conference.

The murder trial of Curtis Lovelace, accused of suffocating his first wife, Cory, has resulted in a hung jury.  The retrial for the former Adams County assistant state's attorney has been set for May 31.

Former Illini linebacker Simon Cvijanovic, whose complaints led to the firing of football coach Tim Beckman and athletic director Mike Thomas, was interviewed for a Tuesday segment on HBO's "Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel."  He said there's 'no doubt' team doctors conspired with coaches for him to keep playing despite injuries.

The former Illini offensive coordinator, who took over after Tim Beckman's dismissal, will receive $1.2 million a year.  Interim athletic director Paul Kowalczyk said the move "will allow Bill to make decisions regarding the program as the head coach without the interim title, and lead the Fighting Illini into Saturday's game without speculation." 

The University of Illinois has fired Athletic Director Mike Thomas. Barbara Wilson, the Interim Chancellor on the Urbana campus, said in a Monday morning news conference that a change in leadership was necessary. She said that "distractions" led to the decision after a law firm's findings brought on the firing of former football coach Tim Beckman at the start of the season.