CHAMPAIGN, Ill — Former NFL veteran Byron Bell and former Fighting Illini quarterback Artur Sitkowski have been named Illinois' graduate assistants on offense for the 2024 season, head coach
Bret Bielema announced. Bell joins the Illini from New Mexico, while Sitkowski remains on staff after serving as a student assistant last season.
Byron Bell
Former NFL veteran Byron Bell is in his first season as an offensive graduate assistant in 2024. Bell joined the Fighting Illini from New Mexico, where he served as a graduate assistant for two seasons.
"I was immediately impressed with Byron and everything he stands for since first meeting him," said head coach
Bret Bielema. "His experiences playing across the offensive line during eight seasons in the NFL has already proved to be a great asset to our team since his arrival a month ago. He will continue to work directly with Coach Miller and our offensive line."
"Having played with Byron and then followed his NFL career, I am very excited to now get the chance to coach with him," said offensive line coach
Bart Miller. "His knowledge, experience and ability to relate to players will be an asset to our offensive line and the entire program."
"I am excited about the opportunity to join Coach Bielema and Coach Miller here in Champaign," said Bell. "I can't wait to make an impact on our offensive linemen and the rest of the Illini famILLy."
Bell worked with New Mexico's offensive line in 2022 and 2023, handling practice planning, film breakdown, and on-the-field coaching. He also helped with statistical analysis and film preparation.
Bell was a standout player at New Mexico before enjoying an eight-year NFL career. He was a three-year letterman at New Mexico with 36 starts in 37 games played.
Bell earned New Mexico's Outstanding Lineman Award in 2010 before playing for Carolina, Tennessee, Dallas, and Green Bay during his NFL career. He played in 102 NFL games with 83 starts across eight seasons from 2011-18.
After leaving New Mexico in 2010 following his junior season, Bell returned to New Mexico to finish his degree after his NFL career ended. He earned his degree in liberal arts in 2021, then became a graduate assistant for New Mexico. He earned his master’s from New Mexico in physical education and curriculum and instruction in 2023.
Bell is a native of Greenville, Texas.
Artur Sitkowski
Artur Sitkowski is in his second season on the Fighting Illini staff and first as an offensive graduate assistant in 2024. Sitkowski served as a student assistant in 2023 following five seasons playing college football.
"Art is everything we want our program to represent," said head coach
Bret Bielema. "He has tough, smart, dependable in his DNA. He has showed time after time that he will do anything for the team, including coming off the bench for wins against Nebraska and Iowa, and starting for the 9 OT win at Penn State. I'm excited to have him continue to work with our quarterbacks and the offensive side of the ball."
"The University of Illinois has changed my life, not only the people inside of the Smith Center, but all those across the Champaign-Urbana community," said Sitkowski. "I am forever grateful for this opportunity. I am excited to impact and influence our current student-athletes, as well as the next generation of student-athletes coming to Champaign."
Sitkowski finished his played career at Illinois for two seasons under head coach
Bret Bielema from 2021-22, following a three-year stint at Rutgers from 2017-20. Sitkowski threw for 2,838 yards and 14 touchdowns during his career, including 807 yards and six touchdowns during his two seasons at Illinois. He threw only two interceptions on 229 attempts (1 INT per 114.5 attempts) from 2020-21, the third-best among Power 5 quarterbacks over the two-year stretch (average: 39.7).
Sitkowski's career highlights include leading Illinois to a 20-18 win at #7 Penn State in the longest game in college football history (9 OT) in 2021. The next season he entered the Iowa game in place of injured starter Tommy DeVito and helped lead the Illini to a 9-6 victory over the Hawkeyes as part of Illinois' six-game winning streak that vaulted the Illini to a #14 ranking in the nation.
Sitkowski is a native of Old Bridge, New Jersey, and played high school football at Old Bridge High School for three years, before he transferred to IMG Academy (Fla.) as a senior.
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