Mike Mallory will remain the Illinois defensive coordinator, football coach Ron Zook announced Thursday.

Mallory, who served as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for the 2004 season, was re-hired for a fifth season at Illinois. He coached linebackers in 2003 and secondary/safeties during the 2001 and 2002 seasons.

“When watching the Illini team from a year ago, I saw a young defense that made steady improvement each week,” Zook said in a press release. “He is incredibly respected, not only by our current players, but in the coaching community as well.”

Mallory’s father – former Indiana, Colorado, Northern Illinois and Miami of Ohio coach Bill Mallory – coached Zook at Miami of Ohio. His brother, Curt Mallory, joined the Illinois coaching staff Dec. 28.

“I am thrilled to have on our staff two sons of the man I played for and who led me into this profession,” Zook said.

While Mallory was officially released when Ron Turner was fired, he was always a contender for the defensive coordinator position.

The quarterbacks coach and offensive and defensive line coaches have not yet been chosen.