Former Ball State head coach Mike Neu will join the 2025 Illinois football staff as a senior offensive analyst. Neu coached nine seasons at Ball State and spent two years in the NFL as the New Orleans Saints quarterback coach.
Neu’s ability to create an exciting offense and his experience in quarterback coaching should help head coach Bret Bielema have yet another successful offense in 2025.
At Ball State, Neu was crucial in turning its football program into one that could compete for league titles in the Mid-American Conference. He would eventually lead his alma mater to its first MAC championship since 1996 during the 2020 season.
Neu completely turned around the Cardinals’ offense by making them one of the most entertaining offenses in the country in 2019. The Cardinals led the MAC in two major offense categories, scoring 34.8 points per game and averaging 463 yards of total offense per game.
With the loss of star wide receiver Pat Bryant to the NFL Draft, Neu will be tasked with finding ways to keep this new Illinois offense high-scoring and explosive during his tenure.
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Another component of Neu’s coaching experience that Illinois fans should keep in mind is his expertise in the quarterback position. After a career year where he led Illinois to a Cheez-It Citrus Bowl victory over South Carolina, all eyes are on junior quarterback Luke Altmyer. He is now a leader, expected to guide this team to another winning season.
Adding Neu to this coaching staff allows Altmyer to improve by learning from a coach who has led at a professional level. With new commitments and coaching additions, the Illini are already capitalizing on the strong 10-win season this fall.
