Bret Bielema          

HIGH SCHOOL: Bret Bielema attended Prophetstown High School and lived in or near Prophetstown, Illinois. He was a two-time first team all-conference selection at both linebacker and tight end. He was named all-Western Illinois as senior, and was a team captain in football and wrestling as senior, earning two-time wrestling MVP and 4 wrestling letters with a 31-2 record as a senior

He led the conference in receiving as a junior and tied the league receiving record, helping his team advance to the state playoffs three straight years. He also threw shot put and discus and ran hurdles in track before missing his senior season with a broken leg.

COLLEGE: He walked-on to Iowa as a defensive lineman in 1988. He lettered 4 years, and was named team captain his senior season (1992). He ended his career with 39 solo tackles and 44 assists, 12 tackles for loss and 2 sacks. He was named co-winner of the Coaches Appreciation award for defense in 1991.

OTHER: He was a graduate coach and assistant coach under Hayden Fry and Kirk Ferentz. He was later named head coach at Wisconsin, where he led the Badgers to 3 straight Rose Bowls (2010-2012). He was later named head coach at Arkansas. After 5 seasons, he parted ways, and worked in the NFL with the Patriots and Giants. He was named head coach at Illinois for the 2021 season.

Born 1/13/1970 and is 54 years old.