Weiden was named Illinois’ director of football operations

News

CHAMPAGNE, Ill. Peter Weiden has been named executive director, head coach of the Illinois football program Bret Bielema announced. Weiden (WY-den) joins the Illini with more than a dozen years of experience in FBS operations, including last season as Wisconsin’s chief of staff.

Weiden reunites with head coach Bret Bielema after spending seven years together at Wisconsin (2010-12) and Arkansas (2013-16). Weiden’s experience includes 11 bowl games, four trips to the Rose Bowl and three Big Ten championships.

“I’m excited to have Pete Weiden join us here at Illinois,” said Bielema. “I’ve been with Pete in two previous programs and he’s helped us win many games and championships. His extensive experience in college football will help our program and student-athletes in many ways. I can’t wait to have Pete join us in Champaign.”

“I am honored to rejoin Coach Bielema and be a part of the program he is building here at the University of Illinois,” Weiden said. “I’ve had the opportunity to work for Coach B for seven seasons at my previous two institutions. During that time, I admired the culture he brought to the programs and the character of the people around them, both players and staff. I couldn’t be more excited to get started.”

Weiden spent the last four seasons at Wisconsin, first as director of operations for three years, then as chief of staff in 2022. Weiden oversaw the day-to-day operations of the football program, coordinating alumni programs and engagement and current athlete development.

Weiden returned to Wisconsin after spending the 2018 season as the assistant director of football operations at Mississippi State. He served as Minnesota’s director of football operations in 2017.

From 2013-17, Weiden served four seasons as the assistant director of football operations at Arkansas, where he also served as director of the Razorbacks’ summer football camps.

Weiden was originally part of the Badgers staff from 2010-12, including two seasons as Wisconsin’s assistant director of football operations. His duties included advance team travel, coordinating community service opportunities and summer soccer.

Prior to his first stint at Wisconsin, Weiden was a graduate assistant football coach at Wisconsin-La Crosse in 2009. That was followed by a year as an assistant football and basketball coach at Madison West High School, which he had attended while growing up in Madison.

Weiden spent the 2007 season with the Baltimore Ravens interning in scouting, ticket sales and operations. He also worked as an intern in compliance, academics and marketing at Georgia Tech.

Weiden graduated from St. Cloud State in 2007 with a degree in sports management and earned a master’s degree in sports administration from Wisconsin-La Crosse in 2010.

Career

Operational achievements

2010 Big Ten Football Champion/2011 Rose Bowl Game Wisconsin
2011 Big Ten Football Champion/2012 Rose Bowl Game Wisconsin
2012 Big Ten Football Champion / 2013 Rose Bowl Game Wisconsin
2014 Texas Bowl Arkansas
2015 Liberty Bowl Arkansas
2016 Belk Bowl in Arkansas
2019 Outback Bowl Mississippi State
2019 Big Ten Championship Game / 2020 Rose Bowl Game Wisconsin
2020 Duke’s Bowl Wisconsin
2021 Las Vegas Bowl Wisconsin
2022 Guaranteed Rate Bowl – Wisconsin