Illinois hires former SEC interim head coach as offensive coordinator

Bret Bielema and Barry Lunney Jr. are being reunited at Illinois. On Saturday, the program announced Lunney Jr. as the new offensive coordinator of the Fighting Illini.

“Barry Lunney Jr. has been named the Illinois football team’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, head coach Bret Bielema announced Saturday,” wrote the program in the press release. “Lunney and Bielema will be reunited after Lunney spent five years as the tight ends coach at Arkansas under Bielema from 2013-17. The contract is pending approval by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees.”

After serving as the interim head coach of Arkansas, Lunney Jr. caught on at the University of Texas at San Antonio. In his time, he helped lead the Roadrunners to the new heights as their associate head coach, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

While Illinois found some success in Bret Bielema’s first season, reuniting the coach with Barry Lunney Jr. could do wonders for the program.

Lunney Jr: ‘I’m thankful and excited for the opportunity to join Coach Bielema at the University of Illinois.’

Furthermore, Barry Lunney Jr. spoke about how thankful he is to join Bret Bielema at Illinois.

“I’m thankful and excited for the opportunity to join Coach Bielema at the University of Illinois,” said Lunney. “Coach B is one of the most respected coaches in college football and I look forward to building on the foundation that he set during his first year in Champaign. The opportunity to work with Coach B again after spending five years together was one that I could not pass up. I’d also like to thank Coach Jeff Traylor, the UTSA coaching staff, and student-athletes for two great years in San Antonio, including a conference championship and top-25 national ranking.

“I look forward to the new challenge ahead as we build a championship football program at Illinois.”