The Illinois Coaching Staff

#8      
I’ve seen the posts and articles, but haven’t heard anything about the hire. But connections to Arkansas, Georgia, and Florida aren’t bad for recruiting linemen.
 
#10      
#13      
I hope the 2 new coaches are good recruiters as well as talent developers.
 
#14      

Steelyunk

Tobacco Road
This guy looks young. He was a grad assistant under Bielma at Arkansas. Must be an up and comer. Hopefully his youth and recent high level play helps him identify with recruits. Ark recruiting analyst tweeted that Illini "got a good one."
 
#15      
They are gonna hire 2 DL coaches....DTs and DEs....means a coach will have to move on somewhere else.
Who can even move on?

Smith: Family
Byrd: Basically family and sorta a Co-DC
Hudson: Easily the best recruiter on the D-side of things.
 
#18      
#19      

sbillini

st petersburg, fl
Am i the only one that thinks that it isn't a coincidence that the total amount of raises added up for 2020 is close to what Rod Smith will be making in 2020?
 
#20      
Good, this is partly about reputation. If you’re a football coach at Western Michigan or a basketball coach at Dayton and you’re doing well, you likely have a preconceived notion of what programs will dish out the $$$$ for their coaches and what ones usually pay on the lower end. We want to be in the first category.

Even when we have bad stretches, it’s essential that we maintain a “Sleeping Giant” reputation that “just needs the right guy” and is willing to invest a lot of money into athletics, ala Texas A&M or UCLA. You have to be able to sell people on the VISION of Illinois becoming a Wisconsin of the last 20 years and maybe even an Ohio State or Texas someday. That’s why I’ve always been a 110% supporter of JW as AD, regardless of how his first few hires turned out; he seems great at articulating that vision and getting people to buy in (increased fundraising money, getting a fairly well-respected NFL coach to come to a bottom feeder football program, getting a sitting basketball coach at a program with plenty of tradition to up and leave to come here, etc.).
 
#21      
Am i the only one that thinks that it isn't a coincidence that the total amount of raises added up for 2020 is close to what Rod Smith will be making in 2020?
So you're saying Rod is going to leave and that Lovie will step in as OC...? ;)
 
#22      

sbillini

st petersburg, fl
So you're saying Rod is going to leave and that Lovie will step in as OC...? ;)

Maybe! Or it all but confirms that there will be no DC hire any time soon. Take your pick!