Illinois head football coach Bret Bielema made three more hires over the past two days, adding Ben Miller, Terrance Jamison and Andy Buh to his coaching staff.

The team announced Sunday morning that Bielema had hired Ben Miller as his tight ends coach. Miller, a former Illinois graduate assistant coach, came to the Illini after spending his last 14 seasons coaching at Air Force Academy. 

Miller, a Midwest man born in Ohio, has experience as a tight end, running back and special teams coach. He has found success at multiple positions and is also expected to help bring much needed recruiting improvements. 

“Ben is very unique blend here at the University of Illinois,” Bielema said. “He returns after a stint here as a graduate assistant and will work with our offensive staff as well as in special teams. He is from the state of Ohio and will represent us in the recruiting efforts from coast to coast and continue to build championship young men for us at the University of Illinois.”

Miller will be working with talented Illini tight ends, including Georgia transfer Luke Ford and Daniel Barker, who recently announced his return to the Illini for another season. 

Bielema also hired Terrance Jamison on Sunday as his new defensive line coach. Jamison both played and coached under Bielema at Wisconsin.

Jamison has coaching experience all around the country, with defensive line stints at Wisconsin, Cal, Florida Atlantic, Texas Tech, Air Force and, most recently, Purdue. 

He has coached several very impressive defensive lines, leading many to consider him as one of the top young coaches in the game. He is also from the state of Illinois and will help boost in-state recruiting. 

“It is an absolute pleasure to name Terrance Jamison as our defensive line coach here at the University of Illinois,” Bielema said. “Terrance is a former player of mine who has developed as a student coach to a graduate assistant and to coach defensive lines across the country in Division-I football. He is a native of the state of Illinois and will be a great addition to our recruiting effort as well as the development of our student-athletes on the football field to help us win championships here at the University of Illinois. He and his family will be a great addition to the Champaign-Urbana community and can’t wait to get things started.”

Bielema announced the hiring of veteran coach Andy Buh as his linebackers coach on Monday afternoon.

Despite multiple young coaching additions to his staff so far, Bielema hired Buh to coach his linebackers. Buh has coached for 10 different teams over 23 years, including defensive coordinator stints at Stanford, Cal, Maryland and, most recently, Rutgers.

Buh has found success in many roles and in conferences all across college football and will take on an important role as linebackers coach under Bielema. His 23 years of experience will bring in veteran leadership and is a boost to the Illini staff. 

“It is great to bring Andy Buh and all his experience back to the Big Ten here at the University of Illinois where he will work with our linebackers as well as our special teams,” Bielema said. “He has been a part of several Big Ten programs as a successful defensive coordinator as well as linebacker coach. Andy has shown to me the ability to affect young men in a positive way to help them understand the game of football as well as the game of life.”

After the three announcements, Bielema has now hired eight new coaches to his staff.

@JPietsch14

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