Former Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema has inked a contract extension with Illinois through the 2028 season after perhaps his best year as a head coach yet.

The Illini, for the first time in a long time, were good this season. Illinois rose as high as No. 14 in the AP Poll and had a chance at the B1G West title. The Illini sit at 8-4 on the season with a chance to improve that record in the Reliaquest bowl against Mississippi State.

His contract will run for 6 years through 2028 and is worth an extra $1.8 million in salary.

Bielema was Arkansas’ head coach from 2013 to 2017, with his best record coming in Year 3. Arkansas finished with an 8-5 record in 2015, but ended the 2017 campaign 4-8, leading to his firing.