clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Illinois Coaching Staff: Jon Tenuta Changes Mind, Will Stay At N.C. State

On Tuesday, new Illinois Fighting Illini head football coach Tim Beckman announced that he had hired Jon Tenuta, the linebackers coach at NC State, to be the school's new defensive coordinator. Now it appears that Tenuta has had a change of heart, as Illinois has announced on Wednesday that Tenuta has decided to remain at North Carolina State rather than join Beckman's new staff.


Related: Mike Ward And Alex Golesh Join Fighting Illini

Tenuta, 54, is considered one of the top defensive coaches in the nation. Before joining N.C. State, he spent time as the defensive coordinator for both Notre Dame and Georgia Tech, establishing his strong reputation for coaching defenses. His name has cropped up in numerous employment rumors over the years, with his recent ties to Illinois being just the latest.

For more, keep tabs on SB Nation Chicago and SB Nation's NCAA football page. For more on the Fighting Illini, check out Hail to the Orange, SB Nation's Illinois Fighting Illini blog.