Champaign, Ill. (WCIA) — Former Illinois Quarterback Art Sitkowski will his third season of coaching with the Illini in 2025, moving into a new role as co-quarterbacks coach alongside Barry Lunney Jr.

Sitkowski played QB for two seasons at Illinois before starting his coaching career in 2023 as a student assistant.

In 2024, he became assistant quarterbacks coach, followed by this year’s promotion.

Through his up-and-down playing career with Rutgers and the Illini, he learned the value of focusing on developing relationships with players on and off the field.

“This game is about impacting, empowering our players, It’s about real relationships,” he said. “It’s not what you know, it’s how much they care about you, and I truly try to make it a personal connection with every person I come in contact with… I just think that’s what this game is about- being a good person and caring about players outside the game.”

Sitkowski was the quarterback for Bret Bielema’s first win at Illinois.