SB Nation Chicago - Illinois Head Football Coach Search: Illini Hire Toledo's Tim Beckmanhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48877/chicago-fave.png2012-01-18T13:13:00-06:00http://chicago.sbnation.com/rss/stream/23540302012-01-18T13:13:00-06:002012-01-18T13:13:00-06:00Illinois Hires Cincinnati's Tim Banks To Be Defensive Coordinator
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/cmWVZDPbF6WZGWPFgXhd1yfCHyU=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828105/large_chicago.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>The University of Illinois has hired Tim Banks to be its new defensive coordinator, as the school announced on Wednesday. Banks was the co-defensive coordinator with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/cincinnati-bearcats">Cincinnati Bearcats</a> over the past two years, and he previously served the same role with Western Michigan.</p>
<p>Banks reunites with new Illinois head coach Tim Beckman, as the two coached together at Bowling Green in 1999 and 2000. Beckman spoke with <a href="http://espn.go.com/chicago/ncf/story/_/id/7475602/illinois-fighting-illini-name-tim-banks-defensive-coordinator">ESPN Chicago's Adam Rittenberg</a> about the move:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Tim Banks is a great fit for the University of Illinois. He led an outstanding defense at Central Michigan and made a great improvement at Cincinnati this past season. Tim and I worked together at Bowling Green and I consider him one of the brightest young coaches in the nation. Tim will run a very aggressive defensive system that will work very well with our personnel.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Banks led a pretty solid Cincinnati defense last season. The Bearcats ranked sixth nationally in rushing defense and 42nd overall. They were elite at getting pressure on the line, as they led the nation in tackles for loss and placed nationally second in sacks.</p>
<p><i style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">For more, keep tabs on <a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #03406b; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://chicago.sbnation.com/">SB Nation Chicago</a> and SB Nation's </i><a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffffff; color: #03406b; font-weight: bold; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://sbnation.com/ncaa-football"><i style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">NCAA football page</i></a><i style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">. For more on the Fighting Illini, check out <a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #03406b; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://www.hailtotheorange.com/">Hail to the Orange</a>, SB Nation's <a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #03406b; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://chicago.sbnation.com/illinois-fighting-illini/2011/ncaa-football/teams/illinois-fighting-illini">Illinois Fighting Illini</a> blog.</i></p>
https://chicago.sbnation.com/illinois-fighting-illini/2012/1/18/2716537/illinois-hires-tim-banks-defensive-coordinator-ncaa-football-2012Satchel Price2012-01-16T16:18:41-06:002012-01-16T16:18:41-06:00Tim Banks Expected To Be Named Defensive Coordinator At Illinois, According To Report
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/cmWVZDPbF6WZGWPFgXhd1yfCHyU=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828105/large_chicago.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>According to a report from the Tribune, <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/breaking/chi-reports-indicate-banks-to-be-named-new-illini-defensive-coordinator-20120116,0,438488.story?track=rss">Tim Beckman is set to hire Tim Banks</a> as his defensive coordinator at Illinois.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Banks served as the Bearcats’ co-defensive coordinator last season, when the team ranked first nationally in tackles for losses with 8.58 per game and second with 3.46 sacks per game. Prior to his stint in Cincinnati, he served in the same position for three seasons at <span class="taxInlineTagLink">Central Michigan</span>.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Finding a DC had been something of a struggle for Beckman, who tried to retain incumbent defensive coordinator Vic Koenning to no avail, then thought he had Jon Tenuta, who later changed his mind about the job.</p>
<hr>
<center>
<b>Related</b>: <a href="http://chicago.sbnation.com/illinois-fighting-illini/2012/1/13/2705719/illinois-coaching-staff-steve-clinkscale-billy-gonzalez-tim-salem">Steve Clinkscale, Billy Gonzalez And Tim Salem Join Illinois Football Staff</a>
</center>
<hr>
<p>Banks comes to Illinois from Cincinnati, where he helped the Bearcats finish 42nd in total defense and 20th in scoring defense in 2011.</p>
<p><i style="outline-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'Liberation Sans',FreeSans,sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">For more, keep tabs on <a style="outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #03406b; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;" href="http://chicago.sbnation.com/">SB Nation Chicago</a> and SB Nation's </i><a style="outline-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: #ffffff; color: #03406b; font-weight: bold; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'Liberation Sans',FreeSans,sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;" href="http://sbnation.com/ncaa-football"><i style="outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">NCAA football page</i></a><i style="outline-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'Liberation Sans',FreeSans,sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">. For more on the Fighting Illini, check out <a style="outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #03406b; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;" href="http://www.hailtotheorange.com/">Hail to the Orange</a>, SB Nation's <a style="outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #03406b; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;" href="http://chicago.sbnation.com/illinois-fighting-illini/2011/ncaa-football/teams/illinois-fighting-illini">Illinois Fighting Illini</a> blog.</i></p>
https://chicago.sbnation.com/illinois-fighting-illini/2012/1/16/2711972/tim-banks-illinois-defensive-coordinator-tim-beckman-ncaaSteven Muma2012-01-13T16:23:34-06:002012-01-13T16:23:34-06:00Steve Clinkscale, Billy Gonzalez And Tim Salem Join Illinois Football Staff
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/cmWVZDPbF6WZGWPFgXhd1yfCHyU=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828105/large_chicago.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>After a false start in announcing that Jon Tenuta had been hired at Illinois, the Illini are still in search of a defensive coordinator, but on Friday they announced <a href="http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/011312aac.html">three other additions to Tim Beckman's staff</a>: Steve Clinkscale, Billy Gonzalez and Tim Salem.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Gonzales will serve as <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%2523illini">#illini</a> co-off. coordinator, Salem will coach RB and serve as special teams coordinator. Defensive assignments TBA.</p>
— Illinois Football (@IlliniFootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/IlliniFootball/status/157943327055036416" data-datetime="2012-01-13T21:53:18+00:00">January 13, 2012</a>
</blockquote>
<p>
<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</p>
<p>Clinkscale worked with Beckman at Toledo.</p>
<hr>
<center>
<b>Related</b>: <a href="http://chicago.sbnation.com/illinois-fighting-illini/2012/1/4/2682221/illinois-coaching-staff-jon-tenuta-changes-mind-north-carolina-state-2012/in/2354030">Illinois Coaching Staff: Jon Tenuta Changes Mind, Will Stay At N.C. State</a>
</center>
<hr>
<p>Gonzalez comes to Illinois from LSU, where he had been the passing-game coordinator and receivers coach. He is a long-time associate of Urban Meyer's, having worked with Meyer at Bowling Green, Utah and Florida. Salem spent the last eight years at Central Florida, most recently as the special teams coordinator and tight ends coach.</p>
<p><i style="outline-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'Liberation Sans',FreeSans,sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">For more, keep tabs on <a style="outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #03406b; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;" href="http://chicago.sbnation.com/">SB Nation Chicago</a> and SB Nation's </i><a style="outline-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: #ffffff; color: #03406b; font-weight: bold; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'Liberation Sans',FreeSans,sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;" href="http://sbnation.com/ncaa-football"><i style="outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">NCAA football page</i></a><i style="outline-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'Liberation Sans',FreeSans,sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">. For more on the Fighting Illini, check out <a style="outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #03406b; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;" href="http://www.hailtotheorange.com/">Hail to the Orange</a>, SB Nation's <a style="outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #03406b; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;" href="http://chicago.sbnation.com/illinois-fighting-illini/2011/ncaa-football/teams/illinois-fighting-illini">Illinois Fighting Illini</a> blog.</i></p>
https://chicago.sbnation.com/illinois-fighting-illini/2012/1/13/2705719/illinois-coaching-staff-steve-clinkscale-billy-gonzalez-tim-salemSteven Muma2012-01-04T12:57:30-06:002012-01-04T12:57:30-06:00Illinois Coaching Staff: Jon Tenuta Changes Mind, Will Stay At N.C. State
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/cmWVZDPbF6WZGWPFgXhd1yfCHyU=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828105/large_chicago.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>On Tuesday, new <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/illinois-fighting-illini">Illinois Fighting Illini</a> 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 <a href="http://twitter.com/CFTalk/status/154630385312083968">announced</a> on Wednesday that Tenuta has decided to remain at North Carolina State rather than join Beckman's new staff.</p>
<hr style="border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-image: initial; clear: both; height: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; border-color: #cccccc; border-style: solid;">
<center style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">
<b style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Related</b>: <a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #03406b; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://chicago.sbnation.com/illinois-fighting-illini/2011/12/20/2650636/illinois-coaching-staff-mike-ward-alex-goleshi/in/2354030">Mike Ward And Alex Golesh Join Fighting Illini</a>
</center>
<hr style="border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-image: initial; clear: both; height: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; border-color: #cccccc; border-style: solid;">
<p>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. </p>
<p><i style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">For more, keep tabs on <a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #03406b; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://chicago.sbnation.com/">SB Nation Chicago</a> and SB Nation's </i><a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffffff; color: #03406b; font-weight: bold; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://sbnation.com/ncaa-football"><i style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">NCAA football page</i></a><i style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">. For more on the Fighting Illini, check out <a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #03406b; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://www.hailtotheorange.com/">Hail to the Orange</a>, SB Nation's <a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #03406b; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://chicago.sbnation.com/illinois-fighting-illini/2011/ncaa-football/teams/illinois-fighting-illini">Illinois Fighting Illini</a> blog.</i></p>
https://chicago.sbnation.com/illinois-fighting-illini/2012/1/4/2682221/illinois-coaching-staff-jon-tenuta-changes-mind-north-carolina-state-2012Satchel Price2012-01-03T18:18:48-06:002012-01-03T18:18:48-06:00Illinois Coaching Staff: Tim Beckman Adds 3 Coaches To His Staff, Including Jon Tenuta
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/cmWVZDPbF6WZGWPFgXhd1yfCHyU=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828105/large_chicago.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>On Tuesday afternoon, new Illinois football coach Tim Beckman announced that <a href="http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/010312aai.html">he has added three coaches to his staff</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"I am pleased to announce the additions of Chris Beatty, Luke Butkus and Jon Tenuta to the Fighting Illini coaching staff," Beckman said. "John is considered one of the top defensive coaches in the nation and has a world of great experience that he will bring to Illinois. Chris is thought of as one of the top young coaches in the nation, especially as a recruiter. Luke obviously brings one of the great names in the history of football and the University of Illinois back to our program."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Beatty was the wide receivers coach and offensive recruiting coordinator for Vanderbilt, while Butkus spent the last five seasons as an assistant in the NFL. Tenuta was the linebackers coach at NC State, where he helped give the Wolfpack defense more of an aggressive bent.</p>
<hr>
<center>
<b>Related</b>: <a href="http://chicago.sbnation.com/illinois-fighting-illini/2011/12/20/2650636/illinois-coaching-staff-mike-ward-alex-goleshi/in/2354030">Mike Ward And Alex Golesh Join Fighting Illini</a>
</center>
<hr>
<p>Prior to his stint with NC State, Tenuta was the long-time defensive coordinator at Georgia Tech and also spent three seasons coordinating Notre Dame's defense. He figures to assume that role with the Illini as well.</p>
<p><i style="outline-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'Liberation Sans',FreeSans,sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">For more, keep tabs on <a href="http://chicago.sbnation.com/" style="outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #03406b; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">SB Nation Chicago</a> and SB Nation's </i><a href="http://sbnation.com/ncaa-football" style="outline-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #03406b; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'Liberation Sans',FreeSans,sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;"><i style="outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">NCAA football page</i></a><i style="outline-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'Liberation Sans',FreeSans,sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">. For more on the Fighting Illini, check out <a href="http://www.hailtotheorange.com/" style="outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #03406b; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Hail to the Orange</a>, SB Nation's <a href="http://chicago.sbnation.com/illinois-fighting-illini/2011/ncaa-football/teams/illinois-fighting-illini" style="outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #03406b; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Illinois Fighting Illini</a> blog.</i></p>
https://chicago.sbnation.com/illinois-fighting-illini/2012/1/3/2680415/illinois-coaching-staff-jon-tenuta-chris-beatty-luke-butkus-tim-beckmanSteven Muma2011-12-20T17:57:06-06:002011-12-20T17:57:06-06:00Illinois Coaching Staff: Mike Ward And Alex Golesh Join Fighting Illini
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/cmWVZDPbF6WZGWPFgXhd1yfCHyU=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828105/large_chicago.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>New Illinois football coach Tim Beckman continues to build his staff at Illinois, and on Tuesday<a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/breaking/chi-illinis-beckman-announces-two-to-new-staff-20111220,0,3068354.story?track=rss&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter"> the school announced a pair of additions</a>, both from Beckman's staff at Toledo: <span class="sbn-auto-link">Mike Ward</span> and Alex Golesh.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Ward was Toledo's co-defensive coordinator but will serve as a position coach with the Illini. Beckman did not reveal which position Ward would coach.</p>
<p>Golesh, who worked at Northern Illinois as a graduate assistant for two years, will be the team's recruiting coordinator.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Beckman also said that his staff is nearly complete but he was not willing to offer up any names because many of them are coaching and preparing for bowl games with their current teams.</p>
<p>Defensive coordinator and interim head coach Vic Koenning, whom Beckman tried to retain, is <a href="http://www.suntimes.com/sports/colleges/9425548-419/vic-koenning-turns-down-illini-return.html">expected to join the staff at North Carolina</a> at the conclusion of this season.</p>
<p><i style="outline-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'Liberation Sans',FreeSans,sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">For more, keep tabs on <a href="http://chicago.sbnation.com/" style="outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #03406b; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">SB Nation Chicago</a> and SB Nation's </i><a href="http://sbnation.com/ncaa-football" style="outline-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #03406b; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'Liberation Sans',FreeSans,sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;"><i style="outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">NCAA football page</i></a><i style="outline-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'Liberation Sans',FreeSans,sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">. For more on the Fighting Illini, check out <a href="http://www.hailtotheorange.com/" style="outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #03406b; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Hail to the Orange</a>, SB Nation's <a href="http://chicago.sbnation.com/illinois-fighting-illini/2011/ncaa-football/teams/illinois-fighting-illini" style="outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #03406b; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Illinois Fighting Illini</a> blog.</i></p>
https://chicago.sbnation.com/illinois-fighting-illini/2011/12/20/2650636/illinois-coaching-staff-mike-ward-alex-goleshiSteven Muma2011-12-11T22:30:57-06:002011-12-11T22:30:57-06:00Illinois Coaching Staff: Tim Beckman Offers Offensive Coordinator Job To Toledo OC Matt Campbell
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/cmWVZDPbF6WZGWPFgXhd1yfCHyU=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828105/large_chicago.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>The next task for new Illinois football head coach in Tim Beckman is to begin assembling his coaching staff, and he's starting with a familiar face: Toledo offensive coordinator and interim head coach <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/chi-new-illini-football-coach-offers-oc-job-to-toledos-campbell-20111211,0,7321586.story">Matt Campbell has been offered the Illinois offensive coordinator position</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"Matt’s a great football mind," Beckman said at halftime of Sunday night’s Illinois basketball game.<br> <br> Beckman has made offeres to other coaches outside of Toledo but declined to name those candidates. He will meet with Illinois coaches on Monday.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Campbell was named Toledo's interim head coach on Dec. 9 and will coach the Rockets in their bowl game. According to that Chicago Tribune report, Campbell is a leading candidate to replace Beckman at Toledo, so the Illini may end up having to go in a different direction.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.utrockets.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=89647&SPID=10708&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=18000&ATCLID=204987252&Q_SEASON=2011">Campbell </a>has been a coach at Toledo since 2009.</p>
<p><i style="outline-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'Liberation Sans',FreeSans,sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">For more, keep tabs on <a href="http://chicago.sbnation.com/" style="outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #03406b; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">SB Nation Chicago</a> and SB Nation's </i><a href="http://sbnation.com/ncaa-football" style="outline-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #03406b; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'Liberation Sans',FreeSans,sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;"><i style="outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">NCAA football page</i></a><i style="outline-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'Liberation Sans',FreeSans,sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">. For more on the Fighting Illini, check out <a href="http://www.hailtotheorange.com/" style="outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #03406b; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Hail to the Orange</a>, SB Nation's <a href="http://chicago.sbnation.com/illinois-fighting-illini/2011/ncaa-football/teams/illinois-fighting-illini" style="outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #03406b; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Illinois Fighting Illini</a> blog.</i></p>
https://chicago.sbnation.com/illinois-fighting-illini/2011/12/11/2629505/mike-campbell-illinois-offensive-coordinatorSteven Muma2011-12-09T16:28:39-06:002011-12-09T16:28:39-06:00Tim Beckman Named Head Coach Of Illinois Fighting Illini
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/cmWVZDPbF6WZGWPFgXhd1yfCHyU=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828105/large_chicago.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>On Friday afternoon, <a href="http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120911aag.html">the University of Illinois announced the hiring of Tim Beckman</a>, who replaces Ron Zook as the head football coach of the Fighting Illini. Beckman, who comes to Illinois from the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/toledo-rockets">Toledo Rockets</a>, promised to "work tirelessly" to make the Illini more competitive in the Big Ten:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"I certainly want to thank Mike Thomas, Chancellor Wise and President Hogan for this outstanding opportunity at the University of Illinois," Beckman said. "We will work tirelessly in building the football program to compete for Big Ten and national championships, and be a source of pride for Fighting Illini fans across the nation. We will recruit the very best student-athletes to represent the University and will work extremely hard to develop strong relationships within the state of Illinois."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Beckman was 21-16 in three years as Toledo's head coach, twice winning eight games in a season. The Rockets also made two bowl appearances under his watch. Prior to his stint at Toledo, which was his first head coaching job, Beckman spent time as an assistant at Oklahoma State and Ohio State.</p>
<p>According to the Trib's Shannon Ryan, <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/sryantribune/status/145256608241434624">Beckman's deal with Illinois is for five years and $9 million</a>.</p>
<p><i style="outline-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'Liberation Sans',FreeSans,sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">For more, keep tabs on <a href="http://chicago.sbnation.com/" style="outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #03406b; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">SB Nation Chicago</a> and SB Nation's </i><a href="http://sbnation.com/ncaa-football" style="outline-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #03406b; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'Liberation Sans',FreeSans,sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;"><i style="outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">NCAA football page</i></a><i style="outline-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'Liberation Sans',FreeSans,sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">. For more on the Fighting Illini, check out <a href="http://www.hailtotheorange.com/" style="outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #03406b; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Hail to the Orange</a>, SB Nation's <a href="http://chicago.sbnation.com/illinois-fighting-illini/2011/ncaa-football/teams/illinois-fighting-illini" style="outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #03406b; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Illinois Fighting Illini</a> blog.</i></p>
https://chicago.sbnation.com/illinois-fighting-illini/2011/12/9/2624603/tim-beckman-illinois-footballSteven Muma