Following the unexpected departure of Jim Bridge, the Illinois football team’s offensive line coach, on Tuesday, head coach Tim Beckman wasted no time filling the vacant position, hiring former Western Michigan offensive line coach A.J. Ricker. Bridge spent just over one month on the Illinois coaching staff and left for Purdue the same day the Illini opened spring practice.

Ricker spent two years at Western Michigan under former Broncos head coach and current Illinois offensive coordinator Bill Cubit. Ricker was an all-Big 12 center at Missouri, where he started 47 straight games from 2000-03.

Ricker is a no-nonsense guy on the field. He and the rest of the Illini took to Zuppke Field at Memorial Stadium on Saturday for the first time since the season ended in November, having been forced indoors for the first two spring practices because of last week’s snowfall. Ricker was vocal with his players from the get-go.

“I get after them pretty good,” Ricker said. “I’ll be the first one to let them know how I feel, but I’ll also put my arm around them and let them know that I’m here for them. But I coach them hard and I want to make it as hard as possible so on Saturdays it’s easier.”

Saturday’s practice was open to the public, and the Illini hosted around 100 high school juniors, Beckman said.

New perspective

Senior Steve Hull’s switch from safety to wide receiver comes with an added bonus: fewer collisions. After missing much of the season with recurring shoulder injuries, Hull said his shoulder feels fine.

“Steve Hull is an exceptional leader,” Beckman said. “Not having him on the football field defensively definitely affected us. We’ve got to keep him healthy.” 

Hull played wide receiver in high school but brings three years of experience on the defensive side of the ball. He said being able to read the defense as well as he can gives him an advantage when making route adjustments.

Cubit has been throwing a lot of information at the Illini as he implements his offensive system, and Hull said he has not had any trouble adjusting to the schemes. He and quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase have spent a lot of time after practice working on routes and on-field chemistry.

Finding leadership

With every coaching change comes a change in culture. But it’s safe to say Beckman’s first season at the helm was a step backward. Scheelhaase said the issues in 2012 weren’t just on-field problems.

“I don’t think we led well, and I hold myself responsible for that,” Scheelhaase said. “Obviously as a senior, you don’t want that to be the mark you leave — that you lacked leadership. It’s been a huge focus, bigger than any X’s or O’s, bench press or squat.” 

Scheelhaase said if you start leading in the fall, it’s too late. He said the Illini have been trying to establish a winning mind-set in the winter, spring and summer as well.

Scheelhaase said he meets with the team’s “leadership group,” a collection of about 20 players, once a week to discuss ways to keep the team’s mentality positive.

The large number of coaching changes throws a changeup at the team, but Scheelhaase said the team is unfazed.

“It’s college football. It’s not unique to Illinois. It’s not unique to the Big Ten,” Scheelhaase said. “My mom was telling me that out of the 20 schools that offered me, I don’t think any schools have the same offensive coordinator and quarterback coach as it was when I was being recruited.”

Barring any unforeseen surprises, the addition of Ricker should be the end of the Illinois coaching carousel.

Sean can be reached at [email protected] and @sean_hammond.