Bret Bielema, the charismatic Illinois football head coach, never runs from the spotlight. However, when it comes to the sport of baseball, he would rather stay far away from the mound.
On June 17, Bielema joined quarterback Luke Altmyer at Wrigley Field to lead the crowd in a rendition of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.”
Before the game, when offered the chance to throw the ceremonial first pitch, rather than take the mound himself, Bielema deferred the honor to both Illinois basketball coaches, Shauna Green and Brad Underwood.
Illinois Football HC Bret Bielema Keeps His Distance From Baseball
On “The Triple Option podcast,” when asked if he would ever take the mound at Wrigley, Bielema gave an honest rundown of his baseball skills.
He jokingly said, “I know I can sing, but you sure as hell ain’t going to get me to throw a pitch. I will be internet chatter for years.” When co-host Mark Ingram II suggested he could lob the ball toward the plate, he replied, “You haven’t seen me throw, I promise.”
Bielema admits his hesitation with baseball stems from a lifelong difficulty with the sport. His home is the gridiron, not the baseball diamond, and he is perfectly content with that. He shared that in school, he was always picked first in volleyball, dodgeball, and every other sport except baseball.
The Josh McCray Transfer Saga
Despite the lighthearted trip to Wrigley, Bielema and the Illini are still processing the loss of last season’s top rushing threat, Josh McCray. McCray’s decision to enter the transfer portal in April dealt the team a significant blow. The running back, who signed with Georgia, left after a standout redshirt junior season, rushing for 609 yards and 10 touchdowns at 5.2 yards per carry.
In the same podcast, Bielema expressed confusion about how McCray, just 12 hours after entering the portal, was on a flight to Athens. The rapid move raised eyebrows, with Bielema hinting at potential tampering without directly accusing anyone.
Facing fan backlash on social media, Bielema clarified his stance the next day. He noted that McCray entered the portal on April 18 at 12:08 p.m., with Illinois guiding him through the process. Calling McCray a “great young man” at a “great place,” Bielema emphasized there was no ill will.
Dear Jon-
He actually entered the portal on 4/18 at 12:08pm which we helped him do and guided him on the process moving forward.
Appreciate your time and inaccurate information. He is a great young man and at a great place with great people. Don’t make something of nothing. https://t.co/X4Hh0urgwy
— Bret Bielema (@BretBielema) June 26, 2025
Bielema had sensed McCray’s intent to leave, having discussed it during a four-year conversation. McCray, a bowl game MVP set to graduate this spring, sought a final season elsewhere, and Bielema respected his choice, even if it stung the Illini roster.
Despite the setback, Bielema remains optimistic about the team’s future. He believes the next group of players is ready to step up and that Illinois has the talent and resilience to continue building momentum in the seasons ahead. The Fighting Illini return most of their starters from a 10-win season, positioning them well for continued success in 2025.
