By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

CHICAGO — For the second time in five years, Terry Hawthorne has left his staff position at his alma mater.

The former standout defensive back with the Illini is no longer the director of defensive player personnel after returning to Bret Bielema’s staff in 2025.

Bielema confirmed the news of Hawthorne’s departure Tuesday afternoon at Big Ten Football Media Days.

“He did an internship last year in the National Football League so yeah, I think he’s just moving on to another opportunity,” Bielema said Tuesday. “I know I’ve gotten a couple of calls on him before so Terry is an incredible person and a great former player at Illinois so I’m excited for him in his next chapter.”

Bielema said he and general manager Patrick Embleton have elected to move Drake Leeper, who is entering his fifth season with the Illini staff, from his director of recruiting position to Hawthorne’s former role.

“Drake was new into his former role and this defense is so different with the type of player so I’m going to move Drake into that (director of defensive player personnel) role,” Bielema said. “The NCAA has come onboard with a rule that allows us to have 16 coaches on the road and we can change that list in August, January and April. So I can now transition some people around with that.”

Hawthorne, who played in 44 games with 34 starts during his Illini playing career from 2009-12, totaling 163 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, one sack, six interceptions (two pick-six TDs), and 28 pass breakups, plus 18 kick returns for 341 yards, leaves an opening in Illinois’ player personnel department and recruiting operation as the Illini currently boast the 17th highest ranked 2027 high school prospects class in a 18-team Big Ten Conference, according to 247Sports.com.

Hawthorne started his coaching career at East St. Louis High School as the Flyers’ wide receivers and defensive backs coach from 2014-20. Following his stint in high school coaching, Hawthorne joined the Illini as the director of high school personnel and Illini Relations in March 2021, a position now held by Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame selection Pat Ryan.

The player personnel department continues to grow as Bielema enters his sixth season leading the Illini football program with nine full-time staff members including Embleton, executive director of player evaluations and acquisitions Nate McNeal, Pat Ryan, Leeper, assistant director of athletics of football external relations and strategy Patrick Pierson, director of college scouting Jon Proto, director of offensive player personnel Eddie Simpkins and player personnel assistant Ben Dessauer.

As a player, Hawthorne helped Illinois to back-to-back bowl victories in the 2010 Texas Bowl and 2011 Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl, including a Defensive MVP performance in the Illini’s victory over UCLA in the bowl game.

Hawthorne, who was a two-time All-Big Ten honorable mention selection at Illinois before being drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2013, is in his third season and second stint at Illinois in 2025. He helped Illinois sign the No. 21 high school recruiting class in the nation, according to 247Sports.com, which was the highest-ranked class in program history.

Hawthorne, who graduated from Illinois in 2013 with a degree in sports management, rejoined the Illini in 2025 from Southern Illinois, where he spent three seasons as the Salukis’ cornerbacks coach from 2022-24. His work with the secondary helped Southern Illinois advance to the second round of the 2023 FCS Playoffs. Before joining the SIU coaching staff, Hawthorne also worked alongside the Illinois Athletics Varsity “I” Association to provide alumni outreach for the football program.