CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Alex Panos was promoted to co-outside linebackers coach, head coach Bret Bielema announced. Panos will work alongside Trent Harris in leading the outside linebackers room for the Fighting Illini.
"I am excited for the opportunity to promote Alex from within our program after he has showed tremendous growth working with Coach Jamison, Coach Henry, and a number of our assistant coaches over the last three seasons," Bielema said. "Alex's ability to see the game is special. Having Alex and Trent lead our outside linebackers for the final four games last season made a huge impact on our defense. We are looking forward to continuing to have them lead the outside linebackers room."
"I am grateful to Coach Bielema, the staff, and the University of Illinois for this opportunity," said Panos. "It is exciting to continue our program's climb to new heights by building our outside linebackers into better players and people. The best is yet to come!"
Panos finished his third season on the Fighting Illini staff and first as an assistant defensive line coach in 2024. After helping co-defensive coordinator/defensive line coach Terrance Jamison reload the Illinois defensive line over the first nine games of 2024, Panos moved to the outside linebackers room for the final three regular season games and the Citrus Bowl. The move helped Illinois finish the season with four straight wins to tie the program's single-season wins record (10) and come in at #16 in the final AP Top 25 poll.
The season was capped by a 21-17 victory over #14 South Carolina in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl in one of the biggest bowl wins in program history, as the Illini held the Gamecocks to 14 points under their season scoring average and South Carolina's second-lowest scoring output of the season. Outside linebacker Gabe Jacas, who was named a Phil Steele All-American, had one of the best games of his career in the Citrus Bowl win with eight tackles and 3.0 tackles for loss.
Panos spent the 2023 season as a defensive graduate assistant after serving in a defensive quality control role for the Illini during the 2022 season. In his first three seasons in Champaign, Illinois won 23 games to tie the program's most wins in a three-year span in over 30 years (24 wins, 1988-90).
Panos played college football at St. Thomas (Minn.), where he was a defensive lineman. He was a member of the prestigious NFF Hampshire Honor Society as a senior in 2021 and graduated with a degree in communication and journalism.
Panos is a native of Hartland, Wisconsin, where he helped Arrowhead High School to three state title game appearances.
Panos' father, Joe, was an all-American at the University of Wisconsin, captain of the Badgers' 1993-94 Rose Bowl team, and is now an accomplished sports agent. Panos' brother, George, played college football at Wisconsin and is now a scout for the Houston Texans.
"I am excited for the opportunity to promote Alex from within our program after he has showed tremendous growth working with Coach Jamison, Coach Henry, and a number of our assistant coaches over the last three seasons," Bielema said. "Alex's ability to see the game is special. Having Alex and Trent lead our outside linebackers for the final four games last season made a huge impact on our defense. We are looking forward to continuing to have them lead the outside linebackers room."
"I am grateful to Coach Bielema, the staff, and the University of Illinois for this opportunity," said Panos. "It is exciting to continue our program's climb to new heights by building our outside linebackers into better players and people. The best is yet to come!"
Panos finished his third season on the Fighting Illini staff and first as an assistant defensive line coach in 2024. After helping co-defensive coordinator/defensive line coach Terrance Jamison reload the Illinois defensive line over the first nine games of 2024, Panos moved to the outside linebackers room for the final three regular season games and the Citrus Bowl. The move helped Illinois finish the season with four straight wins to tie the program's single-season wins record (10) and come in at #16 in the final AP Top 25 poll.
The season was capped by a 21-17 victory over #14 South Carolina in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl in one of the biggest bowl wins in program history, as the Illini held the Gamecocks to 14 points under their season scoring average and South Carolina's second-lowest scoring output of the season. Outside linebacker Gabe Jacas, who was named a Phil Steele All-American, had one of the best games of his career in the Citrus Bowl win with eight tackles and 3.0 tackles for loss.
Panos spent the 2023 season as a defensive graduate assistant after serving in a defensive quality control role for the Illini during the 2022 season. In his first three seasons in Champaign, Illinois won 23 games to tie the program's most wins in a three-year span in over 30 years (24 wins, 1988-90).
Panos played college football at St. Thomas (Minn.), where he was a defensive lineman. He was a member of the prestigious NFF Hampshire Honor Society as a senior in 2021 and graduated with a degree in communication and journalism.
Panos is a native of Hartland, Wisconsin, where he helped Arrowhead High School to three state title game appearances.
Panos' father, Joe, was an all-American at the University of Wisconsin, captain of the Badgers' 1993-94 Rose Bowl team, and is now an accomplished sports agent. Panos' brother, George, played college football at Wisconsin and is now a scout for the Houston Texans.
