College football coaching legend Joe Paterno died Sunday from lung cancer. He was 85.
Illinois announced the hiring of Tim Banks as co-defensive coordinator Wednesday. Banks spent the past five seasons as a co-defensive coordinator, two at Cincinnati and the previous three at Central Michigan.
Illinois fullback Jay Prosch will transfer to Auburn. The move will allow Prosch to return closer to home and his ailing mother, Iris, who is battling brain cancer, while also putting Prosch in an offense that uses a fullback. Prosch was named first-team All-America by Pro Football Weekly and an academic All-Big Ten. He will transfer for the spring semester.
Illini fullback Jay Prosch, who was a valuable blocking back in his two seasons with the Illini, has requested his scholarship release and planned to transfer closer to his ailing mother in Mobile, Ala., according to a published report.
CHAMPAIGN -- A long search for a defensive coordinator at Illinois has ended with Tim Banks, according to published reports.
Illinois coach Bruce Weber hopes senior point guard Sam Maniscalco can log between 10 to 15 minutes when the Illini play at Penn State on Thursday (8 p.m., ESPN2), Weber said Monday morning. Maniscalco missed the previous three games while resting a painful left ankle.
CHAMPAIGN -- LSU wide receivers coach Billy Gonzales, who began his career as a wide receivers coach at MacMurray College in Jacksonville, has accepted the offensive coordinator position at Illinois under coach Tim Beckman, according to multiple sources.
Paul's big night helped Illinois down the Buckeyes for the first time in three seasons.
There's no better way to make them happy than winning. Illinois coach Bruce Weber knows it, even if the wins last week didn't have the style points or panache that left Illini basketball fans satisfied. The Illini won 14 of their first 17 and three of their first four in the Big Ten Conference, but there's little satisfaction outside the locker room.
CHAMPAIGN -- Not only is Illinois expected to play without senior guard Sam Maniscalco against Nebraska in a Big Ten Conference basketball game Saturday, the Illini might also be without D.J. Richardson. The junior guard from Peoria suffered a sprained right wrist in the win over Northwestern on Wednesday, and he wasn't expected to be 100 percent against the Huskers, if he plays at all.
Jon Tenuta changed his mind. One day after he took over as Illinois defensive coordinator, Tenuta told Illini football coach Tim Beckman he would return to North Carolina State because of family reasons.
Illinois hired Jon Tenuta as the defensive coordinator Tuesday, and he was joined by offensive line coach Luke Butkus and Chris Beatty, who will serve as an offensive assistant.
Illinois defensive end Whitney Mercilus will skip his senior season to enter the NFL draft, the university announced Tuesday morning. Mercilus tied the school record with 16 sacks and helped the Illini to a 7-6 record.
Illinois sophomore guard Crandall Head has left the team and will transfer, coach Bruce Weber announced Tuesday.
The Illini have plenty of upside, but you know the saying about potential. It just means you haven't done it yet. The Illini lost four senior starters from last season, forged ahead with a recruiting class that provided hope but showed plenty of growing pains in the season's first two months.
Illinois defensive coordinator Vic Koenning will leave the Illinois football program after coaching the team through the bowl game, the university announced Wednesday. Defensive line coach Keith Gilmore was retained, coach Tim Beckman said through a statement released by the athletic department.
Indications point to Illinois closing on Toledo coach Tim Beckman to fill the vacant football coaching position, according to a source close to the university's board of trustees.
CHAMPAIGN — The search continued for Illinois athletic director Mike Thomas. After Houston coach Kevin Sumlin became the big name Tuesday in the hunt to fill the vacant Illini football coaching job, it cooled Wednesday, and Illinois extended the deadline for the job posting until 11:59 p.m. today from the original deadline to apply on Tuesday.
Illinois junior defensive end Whitney Mercilus, who leads the nation in sacks and forced fumbles, on Wednesday was named the Hendricks Award winner as the nation's top college defensive end.
