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Sources close to the football program confirm Illinois head coach Bret Bielema is expected to promote cornerbacks coach Aaron Henry to defensive coordinator 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

December 16, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Craig Pessman/Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Aaron Henry is being promoted to a coordinator title for the first time in his career as he’ll be tasked in taking over the play-calling duties of the Illinois defense. 

Multiple sources close to the University of Illinois football program have confirmed that head coach Bret Bielema has selected Henry, who has spent the last two years as the Illini cornerbacks coach, to be his second defensive coordinator since taking the job in Champaign in Dec. 2021. 

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys National Football Recruiting Expert

December 16, 2022

(Mike Farrell also has his own website: https://mikefarrellsports.com/)

It’s kind of slow on the recruiting front for Illinois which you’d think would be odd heading towards the Early Signing Period and with the portal active. But that might be a good sign.

December 15, 2022

It's been a tough week at Ubben for the Illinois men's basketball program.  A week intended to focus on final exams, despite the persistent cloud from last Saturday's upset home loss to Penn State that just won't go away.

Head coach Brad Underwood held nothing back in blasting his team's lack of leadership in that game in perhaps his most fiery postgame speech during his Illinois tenure.

How will the players respond, starting with this Saturday's non-conference game vs. Alabama A&M (3pm CT, BTN)?  The fellas give their thoughts on this week's IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular:

Steve Sturm, IlliniGuys Football Analyst

December 15, 2022

Illinois made a major addition to the 2023 offensive line on Monday when center Avery Jones transferred from East Carolina to Illinois

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting 

December 14, 2022

Based on the offers and plans looking for the future, Illinois looked hard at tight ends

Steve Sturm, IlliniGuys Football Analyst

December 14, 2022

Wisconsin's loss turned into Illinois' gain with the flip of former Badger commit Collin Dixon to Illinois.

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys National Football Recruiting Expert

December 14, 2022

(Mike Farrell also has his own website: https://mikefarrellsports.com/)

Ouch, losing Defensive Coordinator Ryan Walters to Purdue stings but how will it affect the Illinois 2023 class?

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting 

December 14, 2022

Illini fans knew this day was coming, but most hoped it would be later than today.

IlliniGuys.com will be your source for this news of the Illinois defensive coordinator search all along the way beginning with this initial list of likely candidates to replace Ryan Walters’ spot on Bret Bielema’s staff. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

December 13, 2022

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Ryan Walters has been named the next head coach at Purdue and will likely next see the Illinois football program when the two Big Ten Western Division rivals play in West Lafayette on Sept. 30, 2023. 

“Congratulations to Coach Walters on taking the head coaching job at Purdue,” Bielema said in a statement released by the University of Illinois athletics department. “Ryan is a talented coach with a bright future. We thank him and his family for everything they did for our program. This is something that I had seen coming for a while now. We have had a plan in place that we will unveil in the coming weeks that will position Illinois Football for sustained success in 2023 and for years to come.”

Now begins the job of Illinois head coach Bret Bielema to replace his first and only defensive coordinator hire since arriving at Champaign and was a finalist for the 2022 Broyles Award, given to the nation’s top assistant coach in college football. 

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Steve Sturm, Illinois Football Analyst

December 13, 2022

For the second part of the "checking in on the commits" series I'm going to take a peek at the players that, for now, we're projecting to start their Illini careers on defense.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting 

Cover Photo Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

December 12, 2022

Oct 28, 2022; Provo, Utah, USA; East Carolina Pirates running back Marlon Gunn, Jr. (21) runs during the fourth quarter against the BYU Cougars at LaVell Edwards Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Creveling-USA TODAY Sports

Today is a good day for Illinois football recruiting, they landed 6-foot-2 wide receiver Collin Dixon from Tallmade, OH. Less than two hours later, Illinois received more good news.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting 

December 12, 2022

IlliniGuys told you Illinois football recruiting was coming to age after a successful football campaign, going 8-4. 

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting 

December 12, 2022

Illinois is sending its fans and the rest of the Big Ten a message.