Robby Hauck, the son of the new Illinois defensive coordinator, has agreed to join his father on Bret Bielema’s coaching staff.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

(Cover photo courtesy Portland State Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The ‘FamILLy’ marketing campaign of the University of Illinois football program is about to be taken to another level this offseason.

Robby Hauck, the son of newly hired Illinois defensive coordinator Bobby Hauck, has accepted an assistant job on Bret Bielema’s 2026 coaching staff as the new assistant defensive backs coach.

“It is truly an honor and privilege to work for Coach Bret Bielema and be part of the Illinois Fighting Illini program,” said Hauck in the university media release. “There is a strong standard of hard work, toughness, and commitment to the team here. I am excited and grateful for the opportunity to join such a great group of coaches and players.”

Robby Hauck is the fourth assistant hire by Bielema who is directly related either professionally or personally to the program’s new defensive coordinator from Montana. Multiple sources confirmed to IlliniGuys.com on Feb. 10 that Ronnie Bradford had agreed to become the first assistant coach hire to Bret Bielema’s coaching staff since Bobby Hauck was named the Illini’s defensive coordinator earlier this week.

Bradford, 55, has 22 years of experience as an assistant coach at the collegiate and National Football League level and joined his former boss, Bobby Hauck, after serving in several assistant coach roles at Montana that included assistant head coach, defensive coordinator, cornerbacks coach and safeties coach from 2021-23.

Bielema agreed last month to hire Bradford as safeties coach, former Montana co-defensive coordinator Roger Cooper as inside linebackers coach and former Montana defensive ends coach Mike Linehan.

A star defensive back for the Montana Grizzlies for five seasons, Robby Hauck joined the Portland State coaching staff as nickelbacks coach and assistant special teams coach in 2023 and after just one season into college coaching, Portland State head coach Bruce Barnum elevated him to the tight ends coach/special teams coordinator position before the 2024 season.

“We all know what a great background Robby has in coaching,” said Barnum before the 2024 season. “He has shown he is knowledgeable and ready to be a special teams coordinator. That speaks to who he is and his work ethic.”

In the 2025 season, Hauck moved back to the defensive side to be the safeties coach. Barnum was fired in late November following a 1–11 record in 2025 and Hauck was not retained by new Portland State head coach Chris Fisk, who came to PSU via Division II Central Washington University.

Hauck coached two All-Big Sky Conference performers in 2024. Included were tight end Tanner Beaman and kicker Mathias Uribe. Those two return, along with the other special teams starters.

Robby Hauck was a a multiple All-Big Sky Conference and All-American selection as a defensive back during his career with the Montana with his father as the head coach. Hauck was also a finalist for National Defensive Player of the Year.

Bobby Hauck, who has spent the last eight years in his second stint as the Montana head coach leading one of the powerhouse programs in the Football Championship Subdivision, was announced last month as Bielema’s choice to replace Aaron Henry as Illinois’ new play-caller for the upcoming 2026 season.

Hauck is expected to bring with him a 3-3-5 defensive scheme that was mentored to him by former San Diego State head coach Rocky Long when Hauck was on Long’s staff as a special teams coach from 2015-17.

“Coach Hauck's aggressive defensive scheme, which he learned at San Diego State and developed at Montana, will be an exciting new style that has never been seen here at Illinois,” Bielema said via the university release.