A Big Ten great and former college football coach is joining Bret Bielema's staff.
Illinois has hired former Michigan running back great Tyrone Wheatley as running backs coach, the program announced on Moinday. Wheatley recently resigned after three seasons as the head coach of Division-II Wayne State in Michigan after going 5-28 overall. He previously was the head coach at Morgan State from 2019 to 2021 (5-18 overall).
Wheatley, 54, is No. 5 in career rushing yards (4,178 yards) and No. 4 in career rushing touchdowns (47) at Michigan. He twice earned First Team All-Big Ten honors (1992, 1993) and was the 1992 Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year. He was the No. 17 overall pick in the 1995 NFL Draft by the New York Giants and spent a decade in the NFL and rushed for 4,962 yards during his 10-year career with the Giants and Oakland Raiders.
Wheatley has a long history as a running backs coach at the Power Four and NFL level, serving as an assistant coach at Syracuse (2010-12), Buffalo Bills (2013-14), Michigan (2015-16), Jacksonville Jaguars (2017-18) and Denver Broncos (2022).
He's coached three-straight 1,000-yard rushers at Syracuse: including Delone Carter (2010), Antwon Bailey (2011), Jerome Smith (2012). In the NFL, he coached C.J. Spiller, Fred Jackson, Leonard Fournette, Latavius Murray and Melvin Gordon.
Why it matters: Wheatley is the third assistant coach with college head coaching experience that Bielema has hired as an assistant, joining defensive coordinator Bobby Hauck (19 seasons as a Division-I head coach) and tight ends coach Jared Elliott (four seasons as head coach at Western Illinois). A native of Inkster, a suburb of Detroit, Wheatley obviously is a big name in the Big Ten as well with experience recruiting the Midwest, particularly the Detroit area, from his days at Michigan and Wayne State. Wheatley takes over an experienced and talented running back room, led by dynamic upperclassmen Ca'Lil Valentine and Aidan Laughery along with big back Jordan Anderson.
Bielema said in a statement: "Coach Wheatley is an accomplished coach with proven success in both the NFL and college football. Our program will benefit immediately from his experience as a running backs coach and head coach. He has been an outstanding player and coach in the Big Ten and has developed some of the top running backs in football. We are excited to welcome Coach Wheatley to Champaign."
Wheatley said in a statement: "I want to sincerely thank Coach Bielema for his trust, belief, and invitation to join his staff. Coach Bielema has built a culture defined by toughness, discipline, and accountability. To coach under a leader with his experience, vision, and championship pedigree is an absolute honor. To the Illini community, alumni, players, and fans, I am grateful for the opportunity to serve. I look forward to getting to work."
2026 Illinois coaching staff
Head coach: Bret Bielema
Offensive coordinator: Barry Lunney Jr.
Defensive coordinator: Bobby Hauck
Running backs coach: Tyrone Wheatley
Wide receivers coach: Justin Stepp
Tight ends coach: Jared Elliott
Offensive line coach: Bart Miller
Defensive line coach: TBD
Inside linebackers coach: Roger Cooper
Outside linebackers coach: Archie McDaniel
Cornerbacks coach: Corey Parker
Safeties coach: Ronnie Bradford