Whitman Says Illini Roster Fundraising Not on Coaches: “That’s my job, not theirs”

Illinois athletics director Josh Whitman publicly put the responsibility on him and not his head football coach to close the resources gap between Illinois and the top of the Big Ten.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

July 2, 2026

CHAMPAIGN — More and more power conference head football coaches have publicly come out with the complaint that their job would be more defined by fundraising and less by coaching.

Josh Whitman, the athletics director at the University of Illinois, has said he’s had discussions assuring Illini head coach Bret Bielema he and his staff shouldn’t ever feel . . .

 

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