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Illinois Football: Illini HC Lovie Smith gets high praise from Josh McCown

By Rees Woodcock

TAMPA, FL - OCTOBER 26: Head coach Lovie Smith of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and quarterback Josh McCown #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers watch the action on the sideline against the Minnesota Vikings at Raymond James Stadium on October 26, 2014 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Cliff McBride/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - OCTOBER 26: Head coach Lovie Smith of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and quarterback Josh McCown #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers watch the action on the sideline against the Minnesota Vikings at Raymond James Stadium on October 26, 2014 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Cliff McBride/Getty Images) /
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We all knew that Illinois football head coach Lovie Smith was a class act.

Lovie started his coaching career at the high school ranks with Big Sandy High School. He was the defensive coordinator for this high school program back in 1980. Since then, Lovie has jumped around from program to program at many different levels. He spent two more years at the high school level before becoming the Tulsa linebackers coaching in 1983. He would then coach 13 more seasons with six different college programs as either their linebackers or defensive backs coach.

The NFL would eventually come calling. Lovie became the Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebackers coach in 1996 and shifted to the St. Louis Rams as their defensive coordinator in 2001. Lovie’s most memorable stint in coaching was with the Chicago Bears from 2004 through 2012. He took the Bears to the Super Bowl. After he was unjustly fired from the Bears, Lovie spent two more years as the Buccaneers head coach before becoming the Illini head coach in 2016.

The track record of being an established coach is there for Lovie. Success has usually followed this seasoned veteran in the coaching industry. One thing that has always followed him is his reputation for developing players on and off the field. More validation of Lovie’s impact on players was tweeted out on Tuesday.

Josh McCown, a 15-year NFL veteran quarterback, retired from playing the game he loves on Monday. Lovie tweeted at McCown saying congrats on a great NFL career and wishing him well moving forward. McCown replied to Lovie’s tweet with kind words of his own.

“I am a better man for having played for you,” said McCown,  “No one leads with more character and class than yourself. Thank you, coach!”

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Lovie’s coaching is sometimes criticized for different reasons. But there is one thing you can’t criticize and that is his ability to develop players as men. He can help mold athletes to be well-rounded. That is the type of coach I want at Illinois for years to come.

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