By Kevin Bessler

The University of Illinois athletic director is rewarding head football coach Lovie Smith with a contract extension that would keep as Illini coach through the 2023 season.  U of I A-D Josh Whitman said he’s seen steady-enough progress to add two years to Smith’s initial six year deal.  The Illini were 4 and 8 this year, which was Smith’s third season leading the program.  The ex-Bears coach is 9 and 27 overall and just 4 and 23 in the Big Ten since his arrival in Champaign-Urbana in 2016.