Illinois Coaching Staff Carousel

illinidarrin · Dec 17, 2015

Jeremy Werner is saying that he is still part of the staff, but he and Cubit did meet and could still part ways.

BZuppke · Dec 17, 2015

I think Defense is not the problem at this point. We've done well the last two years. I'm impressed with the upgrades being made in the coaching staff even if I'm not a Cubit fan.

Sal Iacuzzo · Dec 17, 2015

What is the problem with Banks? Are we still mad at him for the defense sucking in year one?

DrewD007 · Dec 17, 2015

Mike Phair sole DC then? Or looking to hire someone?

Illinnoying Orange · Dec 17, 2015

Sal Iacuzzo said:
What is the problem with Banks? Are we still mad at him for the defense sucking bad during his first THREE years here

Fixed it for ya

drwillini · Dec 17, 2015

Whatever happened to Jason Verduzco? I thought he had potential to someday come back and coach. Understand things didn't end too well for him in KC, but what has happened since?

Paignt It Orange · Dec 17, 2015

drwillini said:
Whatever happened to Jason Verduzco? I thought he had potential to someday come back and coach. Understand things didn't end too well for him in KC, but what has happened since?

Out of coaching was pursuing a doctorate at SLU last year. That's the last I heard.

Sal Iacuzzo · Dec 17, 2015

Illinnoying Orange said:
Fixed it for ya

Wrong, the defense was the only reason we made a bowl last year.

The Galloping Ghost 77 · Dec 17, 2015

Ricker back to Illinois? This is madness.

Illinnoying Orange · Dec 17, 2015

Sal Iacuzzo said:
Wrong, the defense was the only reason we made a bowl last year.

Yeah ... I'm sure it had nothing to do with the fact that there are about 20 or so too many bowl games nowadays.

Last year, we ranked 112th in the FBS in total defense and 115th in rushing defense. That is far from qualifying as good .

Sal Iacuzzo · Dec 17, 2015

Illinnoying Orange said:
Yeah ... I'm sure it had nothing to do with the fact that there are about 20 or so too many bowl games nowadays.

Last year, we ranked 112th in the FBS in total defense and 115th in rushing defense. That is far from qualifying as good .

We were playing last season in 2014 not 1984 so I'm not sure why that matters at all.

The team made obvious improvement on defense last season which clearly carried over into this season. It would be idoitic to change defenses now, especially with Cubit here only one season (hopefully). As soon as Banks actually had talent the defense played well. It's the only part of the team that looked to be Big Ten caliber.

lstewart53x3 · Dec 17, 2015

Illinnoying Orange said:
Yeah ... I'm sure it had nothing to do with the fact that there are about 20 or so too many bowl games nowadays.

Last year, we ranked 112th in the FBS in total defense and 115th in rushing defense. That is far from qualifying as good .

The S&P defensive stats ranked us at 72 in 2014. Not great. But not terrible either.

Illinnoying Orange · Dec 17, 2015

Sal Iacuzzo said:
We were playing last season in 2014 not 1984 so I'm not sure why that matters at all.

The team made obvious improvement on defense last season which clearly carried over into this season. It would be idoitic to change defenses now, especially with Cubit here only one season (hopefully). As soon as Banks actually had talent the defense played well. It's the only part of the team that looked to be Big Ten caliber.

Look, I agree we improved some on defense this season. Although, there were still too many big chunk plays given up to not very good offenses this season.

But to say we were good or made some big improvement the year before is just flat wrong. We were 112th in total defense and 115th in rushing defense ... That's out of a total of 125 FBS teams in the country. We gave up an average of 35 points a game in 2014. That is staggeringly bad for a p5 program in 1984 or 2014.

And there are way too many bowl games for any era (even in the everybody-gets-a-trophy generation) of football being played nowadays.

Illinnoying Orange · Dec 17, 2015

Anyways, welcome to coach Hecklinski and coach Ricker.

I hope both are much needed upgrades compared to those who have left .

Sal Iacuzzo · Dec 17, 2015

Illinnoying Orange said:
Look, I agree we improved some on defense this season. Although, there were still too many big chunk plays given up to not very good offenses this season.

But to say we were good or made some big improvement the year before is just flat wrong. We were 112th in total defense and 115th in rushing defense ... That's out of a total of 125 FBS teams in the country. We gave up an average of 35 points a game in 2014. That is staggeringly bad for a p5 program in 1984 or 2014.

And there are way too many bowl games for any era (even in the everybody-gets-a-trophy generation) of football being played nowadays.

A great defensive performance against Penn State is why we went bowling, that only happened because the defense improved. Why would we install a whole new defensive system for one season? That makes no sense when the D was the sole bright spot on the team. I highly doubt we can attract anyone better than Tim Banks.

ChiCityIllini · Dec 17, 2015

I wouldn't mind a scheme change. To me the STAR/LEO positions have been ineffective and hard to recruit for

rtbritt · Dec 17, 2015

The Galloping Ghost 77 said:
Ricker back to Illinois? This is madness.

Sorry, but I can't remember 100%; did Ricker coach here a year and leave for Mizzou? Did we hire him and he left before coaching here?

Is he coming back here just because Pinkel (sp?) retired?

Charleston · Dec 17, 2015

rtbritt said:
Sorry, but I can't remember 100%; did Ricker coach here a year and leave for Mizzou? Did we hire him and he left before coaching here?

Is he coming back here just because Pinkel (sp?) retired?

Ricker coached for the Illini in 2013 and left for Mizzou (his alma mater) in the summer of 2014. He wasn't retained by Barry Odom. He has a lot of history with Cubit.

The Galloping Ghost 77 · Dec 17, 2015

rtbritt said:
Sorry, but I can't remember 100%; did Ricker coach here a year and leave for Mizzou? Did we hire him and he left before coaching here?

Is he coming back here just because Pinkel (sp?) retired?

Yeah he was here in 2013 and left in 2014 to go to Mizzou. No idea why he's coming back here but I believe he's always had a pretty good relationship with Cubit.

Now if we could only get Koenning back here... :deadhorse:

IlliniJim20 · Dec 17, 2015

The addition of Rocker and Hecklinski has to mean we are getting a new head coach right?

I mean what could be more Illinois than hiring two new coaches, only to make bad karma by having a new coach come in and hire his own guys

Just kiddin, welcome aboard Coach Hecklinski and welcome back Coach Ricker

JucoIllini10 · Dec 17, 2015

Two very strong recruiters that can hopefully strengthen the 2016 class. However, the Ricker hire has me scratching my head with how Barb can fire MT but allow Simon's OC and OLine coach to continue coaching in C-U.

Warriors1994 · Dec 17, 2015

JucoIllini10 said:
Two very strong recruiters that can hopefully strengthen the 2016 class. However, the Ricker hire has me scratching my head with how Barb can fire MT but allow Simon's OC and OLine coach to continue coaching in C-U.

Well I don't think that Simon ever had a problem with Ricker. Pretty sure he only listed Brattan as far as OL coaches go. And Cubit was cleared. You can't keep holding something against him that he was cleared of.

JucoIllini10 · Dec 17, 2015

Warriors1994 said:
Well I don't think that Simon ever had a problem with Ricker. Pretty sure he only listed Brattan as far as OL coaches go. And Cubit was cleared. You can't keep holding something against him that he was cleared of.

Not holding it against the coaches. MT was cleared too or at least said to have acted appropriately when problems were brought to him but had to be fired in order to move forward. I am just frustrated with the inconsistency from Wilson.

Warriors1994 · Dec 17, 2015

JucoIllini10 said:
Not holding it against the coaches. MT was cleared too or at least said to have acted appropriately when problems were brought to him but had to be fired in order to move forward. I am just frustrated with the inconsistency from Wilson.

People have wanted MT gone since he hired TB. This was just a reason they could use.

blmillini · Dec 17, 2015

Warriors1994 said:
People have wanted MT gone since he hired TB. This was just a reason they could use.

Guenther supporters wanted him gone before he hired Beckman.