For Illinois’ Bret Bielema, a bit of calm amid the chaos is a most welcome Christmas gift

It was some December or one other within the late Nineties, and a sure sort of chaos that every one major-college soccer coaches know swirled round younger Bret Bielema. Then an Iowa assistant in his 20s, Bielema was all the time going onerous on the job, plowing forward, churning for any edge. Christmas? Who had time to consider Christmas?

However the twenty third of the month arrived, and Bielema, on the recruiting path in Los Angeles, flew to Cedar Rapids and drove the 2 hours from there to Prophetstown, Illinois, to do what a dutiful son does: go to Mother and Dad for the vacations.

By God, it was simply what he wanted.

“I’ll always remember the calmness that I had after I sat down and knew I used to be round my household,” he says.

These days, Bielema, 52, retains pondering again on that point and others prefer it. Not that there was a lot time to assume for Illinois’ coach, whose final 5 weeks have been a dizzying blur of journey, stress, program milestones, bowl prep, profession affirmation and private anguish.

Bielema misplaced his mom and father-in-law, each unexpectedly, six days aside in November, and traveled to his hometown twice and to South Florida twice to mourn throughout an virtually unnavigable closing two weeks of the common season. He flew to Tampa in early December to signal a bowl contract, recruited in 14 states over 10 days within the run-up to this week’s early signing interval, hosted recruits on campus, signed a six-year contract extension and led practices for the ReliaQuest Bowl in opposition to Mississippi State on Jan. 2.

Amid all that, Bielema absorbed the blow of Bulldogs coach Mike Leach’s dying Dec. 12 after a large coronary heart assault. A cloud of unhappiness will dangle over Raymond James Stadium when these groups meet, and Bielema will really feel the absence of an outdated buddy.

“There was a second after Mike handed the place I used to be similar to, ‘Holy cow, how a lot of this could I be round?’ ” Bielema says. “However I’ll attempt to bear in mind the reminiscences that we shared. He and I had some nice reminiscences which might be really simply between us, and it brings a smile to my face to know the way superior and particular they have been. They’ll be remembered eternally.”

The Illini go away on Christmas Day for Tampa, the place Bielema’s spouse, Jen, is from. Greg Hielsberg is gone, however the Bielemas will fondly bear in mind one in all their closing interactions with him. They have been within the automobile and on the cellphone with little Briella and Brexli’s grandfather as his highly effective voice boomed from the speaker, saying foolish issues and making the ladies cackle.

“Why don’t you simply make it straightforward on me?” he mentioned to Bielema, maybe presciently. “Go to a bowl that’s right here in Florida so I can simply drive to the sport.”

It’s not not like what Marilyn Bielema mentioned to her son in mid-October when he shared — after back-to-back-to-back victories in opposition to Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota — that Illini athletic director Josh Whitman wished to increase his contract for a protracted whereas.

“She mentioned, ‘We’re simply two hours down the street, and for all these years you’re going to have the ability to come see us,’ ” Bielema says, his voice catching.

“There’s little doubt in my thoughts she knew how completely happy we have been. However that is the time of 12 months if you simply have that feeling that you just need to attain out and discuss.”

The contract extension comes with — as does a brand new recruiting class — a way of renewal for which Bielema is grateful. These are completely happy, hopeful issues to carry on to throughout a making an attempt vacation season. So, come to consider it, is the ability of cinnamon rolls.

When Betsy Bielema died in a tragic accident at 27, her brother Bret was solely 20. The loss had him spinning, however a pastor intervened and requested him to share one factor Betsy cherished to do as a result of it made others completely happy. The reply was cinnamon rolls, which she baked in abundance for virtually everybody she knew. For 30-plus years, Bielema has heeded the pastor’s recommendation to cease any time he sees, smells or tastes a cinnamon roll and inform somebody close to him about his beloved sister.

Simply the opposite day, an Illinois tutorial advisory consultant left a dozen cinnamon rolls exterior Bielema’s workplace as a easy — and fully coincidental — gesture of kindness. Bielema shut the door, positioned the field on his desk and wept. When he obtained house previous midnight, he set the field on the tiny desk the place his women, not but college age, wish to eat collectively.

Again within the workplace the following morning, he FaceTimed the ladies, who have been sitting and squealing, frosting throughout their faces. Bielema captured the picture to incorporate within the each day journals he retains for each of them, to be handed over as they flip 16.

The Bielemas will spend their first Christmas Eve of their brand-new home in Champaign. The primary of many, hopefully.

“Being there, I really feel that outdated calmness once more, like I had after I was younger,” he says. “And at a really hectic level, that’s factor.”

It’s greater than that. It’s a present.