Lovie Smith‘s defensive coordinator is a familiar name to him, though not necessarily to the college football coaching world.
According to a report from Pete Thamel of Sports Illustrated, former Buccaneers linebacker and coach Hardy Nickerson will be Illinois’ new defensive coordinator.
Nickerson played 16 seasons as a Steeler, Buccaneer (where he played for then-Bucs linebackers coach Smith), Jaguar and Packer, concluding his career in 2002. He jumped into coaching with the Chicago Bears in 2007, then spent two seasons with the Bucs, coaching under Smith until the staff was let go.
Nickerson joined Chip Kelly‘s staff with the San Francisco 49ers in January as linebackers coach until reversing course and reportedly heading to Champaign.
The Illinois job represents Nickerson’s first appearance in college football since leaving California as a player after the 1986 season.
His reported hiring, coupled with Smith and offensive coordinator Garrick McGee, makes the new Illini staff the only coaching staff in America with a black head coach, offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator.
