Illinois football head coach Bill Cubit announced more changes to his staff Friday.

The head coach announced that co-defensive coordinator Tim Banks is leaving the program to pursue other opportunities. Co-defensive coordinator Mike Phair will become the sole defensive coordinator while former quarterbacks coach Ryan Cubit will become the offensive coordinator, a role that was held by his father.

Cubit also announced former Illini quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase will permanently remain on the staff as running backs coach. Jeff Hecklinski was named tight ends and special teams coach while former offensive line coach A.J. Ricker returned to the same position after spending two years at Missouri.

With the changes, there are no more coaches from former head coach Tim Beckman’s original staff. Banks was mostly criticized for his coaching during his time at Illinois but his defenses improved the last two seasons. Illinois’ defensive line saw great improvement last season with the addition of Phair, which helped improve the overall defense.

The changes at coordinators was a way for Bill Cubit to key some of the staff while making the changes he wants with his staff.

“I feel extremely confident in both Mike and Ryan as coordinators,” Bill Cubit said via a press release. “Ryan was basically the offensive coordinator this past season as we worked very closely on the offensive game plan during the week. I’ve leaned on him both times he has been on my coaching staff as we have very similar thoughts on our offense.

 “Mike brought a high level of energy and expertise to this staff and I was very impressed while watching him operate,” Cubit continued. “He is extremely prepared to install a game plan and call his own defense, and it was very apparent that the players responded well to him last year.”

The addition of Hecklinski and Ricker to the staff add strong recruiters to a staff facing a challenge with a two-year contract. Hecklinski was a passing game coordinator and quarterback coach at Colorado State-Pueblo last season and spent some time at Michigan as a recruiting coordinator.

Ricker comes back to Illinois after leaving the program in 2014 to return to his alma matter. He came to Illinois in 2013 after spending time with Bill Cubit at Western Michigan.

“I’m extremely happy to add Jeff and A.J. to our staff, while making Nathan a permanent coach,” Bill Cubit said. “Nathan did a fantastic job this past season after moving over from an administrative position when the head coaching position change was made. He has everything you look for in a coach in the way he communicates with players and recruits, the love he has for this school and the energy and enthusiasm he brings every day.”

Bill Cubit still has to fill in a few spots before his coaching staff will be complete. He will still need to hire  a secondary coach and a linebackers coach with the departure of Banks and Mike Ward.

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