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Was announced today that he is headed to Illinois to coach OLBs

Seems like quite a demotion. Makes me think he was on his way out anyhow. Defense just did not look well coached too many times last year.

From Illinois football's twitter account:

Illinois Football
@IlliniFootball
·
2h
Welcome to the #Illini, associate head coach/outside linebackers coach Kevin Kane!

Maybe not. Big 10 money probably pays associate head coaches pretty well.

Turns out he also has a past relationship with new Illinois head coach Bret Bielema

Kevin Kane Named Associate Head Coach/OLB Coach

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- University of Illinois head football coach Bret Bielema today named Kevin Kane to his staff as associate head coach/outside linebackers coach.

"It is a pleasure to name Kevin Kane as the final addition of our coaching staff at the University of Illinois," Bielema said. "I first hired Kevin as a defensive graduate assistant and now I've seen his career grow, develop and flourish in the coaching profession as an assistant coach as well as a coordinator. He brings a wealth of knowledge to our staff at Illinois. Kevin is originally from the Kansas City area and will be a great addition to our recruiting staff and in developing the young men in our program."

Kane reunites with Bielema following three seasons leading a stingy defense at SMU as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.

"I am fired up to get back to Illinois and work with Coach B," Kane said. "I've previously coached in the state of Illinois and worked for Coach B, and I know we will have success here. He has hired a great group of coaches and staff who know what it takes to recruit, coach and develop young men on and off the field. It's a great time to be at Illinois and I'm more than excited to be a part of it."

To read this press release in its entirety, CLICK HERE.

Well, good for him.

I am glad we have coaches that are on other folks radar.

BTW, has Van got a job yet?

Yikes, I thought Kane was far superior to Riley when it came to coordinators. I hope we are able to find someone but Kane made us actually have a defense relative to past coordinators.

Have to trust in Sonny on this. At least SMU isn't the "career ruining" destination it once was. Would love to see someone hired who could bring a few studs via the transfer portal to help bolster a defense that remains in need of talent.

SMU_Alum11 wrote:Yikes, I thought Kane was far superior to Riley when it came to coordinators. I hope we are able to find someone but Kane made us actually have a defense relative to past coordinators.

Perhaps Brent Venables has a lookalike brother who's available, or there is another Stoops brother out there that no one knows about.

MiracleOnMockingbird wrote:

SMU_Alum11 wrote:Yikes, I thought Kane was far superior to Riley when it came to coordinators. I hope we are able to find someone but Kane made us actually have a defense relative to past coordinators.

Perhaps Brent Venables has a lookalike brother who's available, or there is another Stoops brother out there that no one knows about.

Looks like Mike Stoops is leaving Alabama with Sark to coach LBs at ut.

There are some pretty good candidates on the radar already.

SMU_Alum11 wrote:Yikes, I thought Kane was far superior to Riley when it came to coordinators. I hope we are able to find someone but Kane made us actually have a defense relative to past coordinators.

Yikes, how many more points would the powerhouse ECU have scored with one of those other DCs?

Now that Stoops isn't going to Texas, would he be a good fit here?

HubbaHubba wrote:

SMU_Alum11 wrote:Yikes, I thought Kane was far superior to Riley when it came to coordinators. I hope we are able to find someone but Kane made us actually have a defense relative to past coordinators.

Yikes, how many more points would the powerhouse ECU have scored with one of those other DCs?

Its one game but Kane and crew had to keep us in every game since Reggie went down. I was really disappointed how bad the coordinating job was being handled on offense. I really hope that lit a fire under him and we can get a decent DC. Worry though is sonny possibly bolting means we have to keep things on pause.