![New Illini Football Coach Lovie Smith, after taking questions from reporters at The U of I's Bielfeldt Administration Building Monday.](https://will.illinois.edu/images/uploads/39532/lovie-helmet-photo__medium.jpg)
Lovie Smith Introduced As New Illini Football Coach
Smith says he expects the team he’s inherited to compete for a Big Ten Championship. The former Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaners coach said he planned to complete his career at Illinois, after signing a six-year, $21 million contract. "I don't know what better commitment I can show to everyone that we're going to be here for the long haul," he said.