Bret Bielema has never been one to bite his tongue. Whether it’s calling out officiating inconsistencies, trading shots with opposing coaches, or throwing subtle digs on Twitter, the Illinois head coach has built a reputation as one of college football’s most outspoken and unapologetically authentic personalities. He’s a walking headline. Part old-school tough guy, part social media wildcard, and rarely does a season go by without Bielema doing or saying something that sets the Big Ten ablaze.

But for all the viral moments and sideline intensity, Bielema continues to command fierce loyalty from those inside his locker room. His players feed off of the fire Bielema projects. For quarterback Luke Altmyer, who transferred from Ole Miss and is now entering his second year under Bielema’s leadership, there’s no doubt that the man is “the best in the business.”

“Yeah, he’s the best in the business,” Altmyer said when asked what it’s like to play for Bielema. “From a character standpoint—the unity, the care, the empathy, and the love he brings to the table every single day—the consistency is unlike anything I’ve ever been around. To be in the building with him, knowing he’s leading the charge, is so special. And obviously, he brings that—but the X’s and O’s piece of it, too.” And this comes from someone who has played under his fair share of coaches.

Altmyer wasn’t done there. He pointed to Bielema’s deep resume and competitive fire as the foundation of Illinois’ growing confidence. “He’s got a lot of rings, put a lot of players in the NFL. Man, he’s got it going on. His character and the way he brings it out on Twitter, whatever it may be—it’s something that’s cool to see. His human nature kind of comes out. He cares. He’s competitive. And we feed off of that. So he’s got it going on, and we follow him, that’s for sure.”

For a coach often caught in the middle of media storms and fiery post-game quotes, it’s easy to forget the foundation that makes Bret Bielema effective: connection, character, and consistency. Behind the bravado is a leader his players trust, one who’s been to the top and is hungry to get Illinois there too. And if Altmyer’s words are any indication, the locker room is all in.

Altmyer’s bigger-picture at Illinois

When Luke Altmyer talks about why he stayed in Illinois, it sounds like a guy who truly believes in what he’s building. “Yeah, I had no reason to leave,” he said. “I really have a really good thing going on at Illinois—great coach, Coach Bielema, great coordinators, support staff, and a lot of great teammates that were coming back with me.” Altmyer examined the surrounding culture, the momentum in the locker room, and the fan support, and decided this was the place to leave a lasting mark. “Got a good schedule for us this year and got a lot of momentum. Community is behind us, fans are behind us… it was set up in a good way, and it would have been foolish to pick up and go somewhere else.”

Luke Altmyer’s staying to accomplish something Illinois hasn’t achieved much in its football history: win big. “There were opportunities to venture onward, but to do something special, to build a legacy of something really cool here, to win a lot of games at Illinois—something that hadn’t been done a lot—that was what I couldn’t walk away from.” It’s rare to hear a college quarterback speak with that level of long-term vision. 

And when Altmyer talks legacy, it’s not about personal glory at all, which is rare. It’s about giving fans something to believe in. “I don’t think personal legacy… I mean, I don’t really care to be remembered as a guy who scored the most touchdowns or set a lot of records,” he said. “To be able to do something cool for the fans, to win a lot of games, to hopefully make the playoff and win double digits again… that’s something the Illinois program hasn’t done a lot of.” He talked about season ticket holders who’ve supported the team for decades without seeing many winning years and how much it would mean to give them a team worth celebrating. “To be able to put one of those years together for those people and for myself, to remember that we accomplished something really, really big—bigger than ourselves—that’s a legacy within its own.” Because Altmyer isn’t just playing for personal victory, it’s a shot to silence doubters and give Illini Nation an unforgettable season.