Illinois announced a pair of additions to Bret Bielema’s coaching staff Friday, hiring Ronnie Bradford as secondary coach and Roger Cooper as inside linebackers coach.
“We are excited to welcome Coach Bradford to the Illini FamILLy,” wrote Bielema to Fighting Illini Athletics. “His extensive experience, both in college football and the NFL, will make an immediate impact in our building.”
Bradford previously served as special teams assistant for the Miami Dolphins. Before taking his talents to the NFL, Bradford coached for three seasons under new Illinois defensive coordinator Bobby Hauck at Montana. Bradford served as Montana’s defensive coordinator in 2023 for a team that made it all the way to the FCS Championship Game.
Now, he returns to Hauck’s staff in Champaign.
“I am excited to coach with Bobby Hauck and build on the success that has been established here at Illinois,” wrote Bradford to Fighting Illini Athletics. “I can’t wait to experience the Illini faithful and our enthusiastic fan base!”
Get The Daily Illini in your inbox!
Bradford coached for various schools and NFL teams in the years prior to his time at Montana. He also played 10 seasons in the NFL as a defensive back.
Bielema said that Bradford will work with the team’s safeties, while defensive backs coach Corey Parker will work with cornerbacks.
Cooper also spent time coaching under Hauck at Montana, serving as co-defensive coordinator, linebackers coach and safeties coach during his four years with the program.
“Coach Cooper has had an accomplished career on the defensive side of the ball as a coordinator, position coach, and player,” wrote Bielema to Fighting Illini Athletics. “He will bring valuable experience to our program, both for our inside linebackers and our entire defense.”
Prior to his time at Montana, Cooper coached for a decade at Idaho State. He served as associate head coach, defensive coordinator, linebackers coach and running backs coach across his ten years with Idaho State.
At Illinois, Cooper will work closely alongside outside linebackers coach Archie McDaniel.
“I am super excited to get to work with Coach McDaniel and the rest of our staff in Champaign,” Cooper wrote to Fighting Illini Athletics. “Illinois has a championship standard and a history of elite linebackers, and I’m ready to build on that proud tradition with an outstanding group of student-athletes.”
Illinois kicks off its season in just under seven months when the team hosts UAB on Sept. 5.
@BrendanGallian
