Champaign, IL (CHAMBANA TODAY) – The University of Illinois Fighting Illini have announced two key additions to their football coaching staff. Jordan Thomas has been named defensive line coach and run game coordinator, while Tyrone Wheatley joins as running backs coach, head coach Bret Bielema confirmed.
Thomas brings a decade of coaching experience at both the collegiate and NFL levels, including stops at Boston College, the Cleveland Browns, and his alma mater San Diego State. He has coached standout players such as 2023 AP Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett and helped top-ranked defenses excel in both college and professional football.
Wheatley, a former first-round NFL draft pick, has 18 years of coaching experience, including collegiate positions at Michigan and Syracuse and NFL stops with the Bills, Jaguars, and Broncos. He has worked with elite running backs including Melvin Gordon, C.J. Spiller, Leonard Fournette, and Fred Jackson, and helped Michigan lead the Big Ten in rushing touchdowns in 2016.
“Coach Thomas and Coach Wheatley bring toughness, experience, and championship-level expertise to our Illini FamILLy,” Bielema said. “We are excited to welcome them and continue building a program that competes at the highest level.”
Both coaches expressed enthusiasm for joining Illinois and helping develop the next generation of Fighting Illini talent. Thomas highlighted his excitement to work with the staff and represent a proud program, while Wheatley called it an honor to coach under Bielema’s leadership and contribute to the team’s culture of discipline and accountability.
Illinois fans can expect these hires to play a significant role as the program looks to strengthen both sides of the ball and continue its recent momentum on the field.
