CHAMPAIGN — Former Michigan standout and 10-year NFL pro Tyrone Wheatley was named Illinois' new running backs coach Monday. Wheatley has coached at the high school, college and NFL levels for nearly two decades since his own playing career ended in 2004.
"Coach Wheatley is an accomplished coach with proven success in both the NFL and college football," Illinois coach Bret Bielema said in an official release. "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."
Wheatley is the third former head coach to join Bielema's rebuilt coaching staff. The Inkster, Mich., native spent the previous three seasons at Division II Wayne State (Mich.), resigning earlier this month after the Wildcats went 0-11 during the 2025 season. Wheatley was 5-28 in his tenure at Wayne State.
The other former head coaches turned Illinois assistants include defensive coordinator Bobby Hauck and tight ends coach Jared Elliott. Hauck spent 15 total seasons across two stints at Montana before retiring (albeit quite briefly) earlier this month, while Elliott was the head coach at Western Illinois from 2018-21.
Wheatley took the Wayne State job after spending the 2022 season as running backs coach for the Denver Broncos. That came after his first stint as college head coach with three seasons at Morgan State where he went 5-18 with the COVID-19 pandemic wiping out his second of three seasons. Wheatley was also running backs coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Michigan, Buffalo Bills, Syracuse, Eastern Michigan and Division III Ohio Northern. He started his coaching career as head coach at Robichaud (Mich.) High School in 2007.
"I want to sincerely thank Coach Bielema for his trust, belief, and invitation to join his staff," Wheatley said. "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."
Wheatley left Ann Arbor, Mich., as one of the best athletes in Michigan history. On the football field, the 6-foot, 235-pound running back had 4,187 rushing yards, 510 receiving yards and 53 total touchdowns. He was a three-time All-Big Ten selection and the 1992 Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year. Wheatley was also a track All-American for the Wolverines and won the Big Ten outdoor championship in the 100-meter hurdles in 1994.
Wheatley's football career continued in the NFL. He was selected by the New York Giants with the 17th overall pick in the first round of the 1995 NFL Draft and spent four seasons with the organization. Six more seasons with the Oakland Raiders rounded out Wheatley's NFL career with 4,962 rushing yards and 40 touchdowns to go with 900 receiving yards and 705 kickoff return yards across 10 seasons.