Mike Linehan is the third assistant coach from Bobby Hauck’s Montana coaching staff to make the move to Illinois this offseason.

CHAMPAIGN — The pipeline of University of Montana coaches heading east to Champaign-Urbana has continued with the hiring of defensive ends coach Mike Linehan.

Linehan, who is the son of long-time National Football League coach Scott Linehan, is the third former Montana staffer to join new defensive coordinator hire Bobby Hauck at Illinois and will be part of a staff that can help teach and install the 3-3-5 formation defense during the spring workout season starting March 23.

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema agreed last month to hire former Montana defensive coordinator Ronnie Bradford as safeties coach and former Montana co-defensive coordinator Roger Cooper as inside linebackers coach.

Linehan joins the Illini after three seasons as the defensive line coach at Montana. He was part of the Hauck’s Montana coaching staff that produced 35 wins, two 13-win seasons, three trips to the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs, and an appearance in the 2023 FCS National Championship Game during his three seasons with the Grizzlies.

This defensive ends coaching position at Illinois will be Linehan’s first job at a power conference program. He got his start in collegiate coaching at San Diego State, where he served as a defensive line graduate assistant for three seasons from 2020-22 under then-head coach Brady Hoke. He helped SDSU finish in the top three teams in the Mountain West against the rush and in total defense when Kurt Mattix, who is now the Ohio University defensive coordinator, ran the defensive scheme in each season.

“We are excited to welcome Coach Linehan to our staff," said Bielema in the university media release. “His extensive football background and strong understanding of our defensive scheme aligns perfectly with our program. He will work alongside Coach (Jordan) Thomas, who he has previous experience with, in coaching and developing our defensive ends and defensive line.”

Linehan helped Montana's 2023 defense rank as one of the best in program history. Montana finished in the top 20 in the nation in nearly every defensive stat category, including scoring defense (5th, 17.2), turnovers forced (10th, 24), interceptions (4th, 17), rushing defense (15th, 108.5), total defense (18th, 314.7), and passing efficiency defense (5th, 111.39) on their way to the national championship game.

“I am honored and grateful to join a great program,” said Linehan in the university media release. “Coach Bielema and the rest of the coaching staff have built a great tradition and culture. I can't wait for the opportunity to get to work with our amazing student-athletes.”

In 2023, Linehan was responsible for coaching FCS All-American Alex Gubner, who became one of only seven interior defensive linemen in history to win the Big Sky Conference Defensive MVP award. Gubner totaled 45 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, and 3.0 sacks during his banner senior season, then signed as an undrafted free agent with the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs and the Canadian Football League’s Saskatchewan Roughriders.

In 2024, Linehan mentored defensive end Hayden Harris, who was second in the Big Sky Conference in fumble recoveries and third in sacks and tackles for loss as a senior. Harris went on to sign with the NFL’s Buffalo Bills and be drafted by the CFL’s BC Lions.

Linehan will work in tandem with new Illinois defensive line coach Jordan Thomas to rebuild a defensive front that lost six defensive linemen from the 2025 roster to the transfer portal.