Illinois football coach Lovie Smith

Illinois coach Lovie Smith talks to linebacker Del’ Shawn Phillips during the first half against Northwestern on Nov. 24, 2018, in Evanston. (Nam Y. Huh/AP)

Illinois coach Lovie looks up at the scoreboard during a game against Iowa on Nov. 17, 2018, in Champaign. (Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

Illinois head coach Lovie Smith stands on the sideline in the first half against Maryland on Oct. 27, 2018, in College Park, Md. (Patrick Semansky / AP)

Illinois coach Lovie Smith walks on the field as players prepare for a game against Rutgers on Oct. 6, 2018. (David Boe / AP)

Illinois head coach Lovie Smith instructs his team against Ohio State on Nov. 18. (Jay LaPrete / AP)

Illinois coach Lovie Smith watches the action during the game against Indiana at Memorial Stadium in Champaign on Nov. 11, 2017. (Michael Hickey / Getty Images)

Illinois coach Lovie Smith shouts from the sideline during the second quarter against Wisconsin, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017, at Memorial Stadium in Champaign. (BRADLEY LEEB / AP)

Illinois coach Lovie Smith, right, questions a call against his team during the first half against Iowa, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Charlie Neibergall / AP)

Illinois coach Lovie Smith talks to Julian Hylton during the game against Nebraska at Memorial Stadium in Champaign on Sept. 29, 2017. (Michael Hickey / Getty Images)

Illinois coach Lovie Smith watches from the sideline during the second half against Nebraska on Friday, Sept. 29, 2017, in Champaign. (Stephen Haas / AP)

Illini football coach Lovie Smith smiles before a Cubs-Cardinals game at Wrigley Field on July 23, 2017. (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

Illini football coach Lovie Smith shakes hands with Cubs manager Joe Maddon before a game at Wrigley on July 23, 2017. (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

Illinois coach Lovie Smith speaks at Big Ten Media Day on July 24, 2017. (G-Jun Yam / AP)

Illinois coach Lovie Smith and Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald shake hands after their game on Nov. 26, 2016. Northwestern won 42-21. (Nam Y. Huh / AP)

Illinois coach Lovie Smith checks the scoreboard against Iowa on Nov. 19, 2016 at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill. (BRADLEY LEEB / AP)

Lovie Smith watches his team prior to a game against Wisconsin at Camp Randall Stadium on Nov. 12, 2016, in Madison, Wis. (Stacy Revere / Getty Images)

Illinois coach Lovie Smith looks at the scoreboard during the second quarter against Minnesota on Oct. 29, 2016. (BRADLEY LEEB / AP)

Lovie Smith stands on the field during a timeout during the second half against Purdue on Oct. 8, 2016. Purdue defeated Illinois 34-31 in overtime. (BRADLEY LEEB / AP)

Illini head coach Lovie Smith breaks from a team huddle in the first half against Murray State at Memorial Stadium on Sept. 3, 2016. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

Illini head coach Lovie Smith, right, signals a touchdown in the first half against Murray State at Memorial Stadium on Sept. 3, 2016. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

Illini head coach Lovie Smith walks off the field after a 52-3 win over Murray State at Memorial Stadium on Sept. 3, 2016, in Champaign. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

Lovie Smith, center right, joins his team for a singing of the Alma Mater after a 52-3 win over Murray State at Memorial Stadium on Sept. 3, 2016. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

Illinois head coach Lovie Smith touches Grange Rock before entering the field for warm-ups before a game against Murray State on Sept. 3, 2016. (Bradley Leeb / AP)

Illinois head coach Lovie Smith walks among his players during a preseason football practice on Aug. 9, 2016 at the practice field near Memorial Stadium. (Anthony Souffle / Chicago Tribune)

Illinois head coach Lovie Smith watches his players during a preseason football practice on Aug. 9, 2016 at the practice field near Memorial Stadium. (Anthony Souffle / Chicago Tribune)

Illinois head coach Lovie Smith chats on the phone prior to taking the stage at the Big Ten football media day held at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place on July 26, 2016. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)

Illinois head coach Lovie Smith at Big Ten football media day held at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place on July 26, 2016. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)

Illinois head coach Lovie Smith speaks to the media at Big Ten football media day held at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place on July 26, 2016. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)

Lovie Smith is introduced by athletic director Josh Whitman as Illini head coach at the Bielfeldt Athletics Administration Building in Champaign on Monday, March 7, 2016. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune)

Lovie Smith is introduced as Illini head coach at the Bielfeldt Athletics Administration Building in Champaign on Monday, March 7, 2016. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune)

Lovie Smith talks to press after he was introduced as Illini head coach at the Bielfeldt Athletics Administration Building in Champaign on Monday, March 7, 2016. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune)

Lovie Smith is introduced by athletic director Josh Whitman as Illini head coach at the Bielfeldt Athletics Administration Building in Champaign on Monday, March 7, 2016. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune)

Lovie Smith arrives at the Bielfeldt Athletics Administration Building in Champaign for his introduction as the new Illini football coach on March 7, 2016. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune)

Ex-Bears coach Lovie Smith greets Dee Brown, special assistant to the athletic director, as he arrives at the Bielfeldt Athletics Administration Building in Champaign for an introduction as University of Illinois head football coach on March 7, 2016. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune)

Lovie Smith arrives at the Bielfeldt Athletics Administration Building in Champaign for his introduction as the new Illini football coach on March 7, 2016. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune)

Buccaneers coach Lovie Smith watches his team take on the Panthers on Jan. 3, 2016. (Bob Leverone / AP)

Bears coach John Fox, left, with Buccaneers coach Lovie Smith at the end of their teams’ game at Raymond James Field in Tampa, Fla. The Bears won 26-21 on Dec. 27, 2015. (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

Buccaneers coach Lovie Smith waits for the start of a news conference at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis on Feb. 18, 2015. (David J. Phillip / AP)

Buccaneers coach Lovie Smith greets Bears coach Marc Trestman at the end of the Bears’ 21-13 win at Soldier Field on Nov. 23, 2014. (Anthony Souffle / Chicago Tribune)

Lovie Smith walks away from the podium after his press conference at the end of his team’s win over the Detroit Lions at Ford Field in the season finale on Dec. 30, 2012. (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

Lovie Smith walks off the field after the Bears beat the Lions in the 2012 season finale. (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

Lovie Smith during a 2010 game against the Patriots at Soldier Field. (Scott Strazzante / Chicago Tribune)

Lovie Smith waves after his team’s win over the Dallas Cowboys at Cowboys Stadium on Sept. 19, 2010. (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

Lovie Smith walks on the field as the team is announced during the Family Night practice at Soldier Field on Aug. 6, 2010. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)

Bears coach Lovie Smith speaks to the media at training cap on July 28, 2010. (Phil Velasquez / Chicago Tribune)

Bears coach Lovie Smith and GM Jerry Angelo listen to CEO Ted Phillips speak during a press conference at Halas Hall on Jan. 5, 2010. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)

Lovie Smith prepares for the Chicago Bears game against the Vikings at Soldier Field on Dec. 28, 2009. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)

Lovie Smith shares a light moment with the media at the beginning of a press conference at Halas Hall on Nov. 25, 2009. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)

Bears GM Jerry Angelo and head coach Lovie Smith introduce new quarterback Jay Cutler at Halas Hall on April 3, 2009. (Phil Velasquez / Chicago Tribune)

Lovie Smith enters the Bears Care Gala on May 9, 2009, with his wife MaryAnne. (Andrew A. Nelles / Chicago Tribune)

Lovie Smith in the fourth quarter of their game against the Panthers on Sept. 14, 2008. (Jos M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)

Lovie Smith talks to the media as the Bears arrive for training camp on July 26, 2007. (Jim Prisching / Chicago Tribune)

Bears head coach Lovie Smith watches Devin Hester throw out the first pitch before the home opener with the Astros on April 9, 2007. (Phil Velasquez / Chicago Tribune)

Bears coach Lovie Smith talks and Colts coach Tony Dungy talk to the media ahead of the Super Bowl on Feb. 2, 2007. (Jim Prisching / Chicago Tribune)

Bears head coach Lovie Smith speaks during a news conference on Jan. 28, 2007 in Miami ahead of Super Bowl XLI. (Jeff Roberson / Associated Press)

Lovie Smith answers questions during Media Day at Dolphin Stadium on January 30, 2007 ahead of the Super Bowl. (Scott Halleran / Getty Images)

Quarterback Rex Grossman and head coach Lovie Smith celebrate after the Bears 39-14 win against the Saints during the NFC Championship game at Soldier Field on January 21, 2007. (Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images)

Rex Grossman passes under the watchfull eye of Bears coach Lovie Smith during practice on Nov. 15, 2006. (Jim Prisching / Chicago Tribune)

Bears Lovie Smith gestures as he estimates the level of improvement he has gained over where the team started when he took the reins two years ago, during a discussion with the media at Bears HQ, Halas Hall in Lake Forest on Jan. 16, 2006. (David Trotman-Wilkins / Chicago Tribune)

Bears coach Lovie Smith and GM Jerry Angelo introduce the team’s No. 1 pick Cedric Benson on April 25, 2005. (Jim Prisching / Chicago Tribune)

Bears coach Lovie Smith with White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen at at the 37th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Dinner at the Chicago Hilton Towers in 2005. Smith, Guillen and Cubs manager Dusty Baker recieved the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award at the event. (Anthony Robert La Penna / Chicago Tribune)

Lovie Smith on his first day as the Bears coach at training camp practice on July 27, 2004. (John Smierciak / Chicago Tribune)

New Bears coach Lovie Smith and Bears president/CEO Ted Phillips react to questions at the Bears fan convention on Feb. 28, 2004. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)

Lovie Smith talks to the media after a second interview at Halas Hall for the Bears head coaching job on Jan. 13, 2004. (Jim Prisching / Chicago Tribune)