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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) – As the 2026 season approaches, Illinois football is refreshing its coaching roster with several new appointments.
On Friday, the Illini announced the addition of a new inside linebackers coach along with a secondary coach.
Two other assistant coaches, recently brought on board, are already settling into their roles in Champaign and familiarizing themselves with the team.
Illinois defensive coordinator Bobby Hauck, alongside tight ends coach Jared Elliott, addressed the press in Champaign on Thursday for their debut media appearance.
Hauck steps into head coach Bret Bielema’s team after concluding his tenure as Montana’s head football coach just a few weeks earlier. While he anticipated a fresh opportunity, Hauck recognized it was the right moment to leave his head coaching days behind.
Hauck’s system centers around a 3-3-5 defensive scheme, one that he and Bielema hope can cause issues for opposing Big Ten teams due to its unique look.
“Coaching against this defense, and listening and watching the offensive coaches struggle and complain every time we played against it – I thought it was problematic, so I wanted to learn it,” Hauck said of adopting this unique style of defense.
Meanwhile, Elliott joins the Illini staff after one season with New Mexico. He previously worked at Ball State under Mike Neu. Neu is now a senior offensive assistant with the Illini. Elliott also recruited and coached tight end Christian Abney in Muncie, Ind., who now plays for the Illini.
“That helps, when you’re coming into a new working environment, a new program — that kind of helps with your transition for sure,” Elliott said of his previous connections with Illinois coaches and players.
Elliott also expressed an excitement for Kaden Feagin’s future. Feagin, an Atwood, Ill. native, will switch from running back to tight end for his senior year.