Bielema Hails Indiana’s Coaching Staff

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema is handing out major praise to Indiana’s coaching staff—specifically coordinators Walt Bell and Paul Haynes—after a brutal 63-10 loss, calling them the best he’s ever seen in his 17 years coaching. Despite Indiana’s low preseason ranking, their dominance over a top-10 Illinois team speaks volumes. Bielema highlights their long tenure with new Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti, dating back to James Madison, crediting their loyalty to Cignetti’s vision. Haynes’ Broyles Award win and his status as the first assistant to return to a championship team since Brent Venables further underscore their elite status. This rare, glowing endorsement from a rival coach signals Indiana’s coaching staff is already making waves—even if the team isn’t getting national hype. Bielema also notes that Bell and Haynes have been with Cignetti across four programs, and with a potential split after this season, he might even hope they leave the Big Ten. It’s a clear sign of Cignetti’s ability to attract top talent—and whether that translates to on-field success next season remains to be seen. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/c20871f6da4a189a