CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Terrance Jamison has been promoted to co-defensive coordinator/defensive line coach, Illinois head coach Bret Bielema announced. Jamison has spent the last two seasons leading one of the best defensive line units in the nation for the Fighting Illini.
"To see the impact Terrance has had on our defense and our entire program has been very rewarding for everyone," said Bielema. "His ability to coach our defensive front in combination with his abilities in player development and recruiting are at a very high level. He will work closely with Aaron Henry and our defensive staff to put us in position to have success daily."
"I'm extremely thankful for this opportunity and eager to continue stacking days," said Jamison. "I would not be in this position without the leadership of Coach Bielema. I knew before joining the Illini football family that this would be the best place to develop players and develop as a coach. This place is special because of the people; our players, our staff, and our coaches. It's FamILLy."
Jamison's defensive linemen anchored Illinois' defense that led the nation in scoring defense (12.8) and takeaways (32). With the d-line led by All-Big Ten defensive tackles Jer'Zhan Newton and Keith Randolph and nose tackle Calvin Avery, the Fighting Illini also ranked in the top 10 in the nation in total defense (3rd, 273.5), rushing defense (10th, 99.8), fewest first downs allowed (7th, 199), and third down defense (9th, 30.1%). The defensive line room helped Illinois to its best season in 15 years, as the Illini won eight games for the first time since 2007 and earned a berth in the ReliaQuest Bowl, the Illini's first January bowl game since the 2008 Rose Bowl.
Newton had an All-American season in 2022, tying for the national lead in QB hits (19), ranking seventh in the nation in pressures (59), and together with Randolph the duo led the nation in quarterback pressures among defensive line partners with 81. Newton tied for the nation lead in TFLs among interior defensive linemen with 14.0, while Randolph ranked third in the country among interior d-line players with 13.0 TFLs. Newton and Randolph ranked first and second in the Big Ten in TFLs among interior defensive linemen, more than 3.0 better than the next closest Big Ten player at their position. When adding nose tackle Avery, Illinois' three interior defensive lineman totaled more tackles and TFLs than any other interior defensive line trio in the nation.
Jamison was a part of one of the best defensive turnarounds in the nation in 2021, helping Illinois to a 5-7 record and ranked wins over #7 Penn State and #20 Minnesota. Illinois' scoring defense (31st from 97th), third down defense (31st from 89th), and total defense (52nd from 114th) all improved more than 50 spots in the national rankings from 2020. The Illini made massive gains in the Big Ten defensive rankings, as well, jumping nine or more spots in scoring defense (4th from 14th), touchdowns allowed (t-3rd from 14th), yards allowed per game (5th from 14th), and passing yards allowed per game (1st from 10th). He led Newton and Randolph to All-Big Ten honorable mention honors.
Prior to making the move to Purdue in 2020, Jamison spent the 2019 season at Air Force in a similar role, where he helped the Falcons to an 11-2 record that included a 31-21 victory over Washington State in the Cheez-It Bowl. That Air Force defensive unit finished in the top 20 nationally in a number of categories, including rushing defense (7th, 100.5), defensive touchdowns (12th, 3), total defense (17th, 319.6) and scoring defense (20th, 19.8).
Jamison also coached defensive line units for two seasons at Texas Tech (2017-18) and three seasons at Florida Atlantic (2014-16), prior to his stop at Air Force. He spent the 2013 season in a quality control role at California before earning his first full-time position at FAU.
Jamison has coached several outstanding players in his career, including 2015 C-USA Defensive Player of the Year Trey Hendrickson, multiple-Pro Bowler J.J. Watt at Wisconsin, fifth-round NFL Draft pick Broderick Washington at Texas Tech, and George Karlaftis at Purdue, who was an All-Big Ten second team lineman in 2020.
A native of Riverdale, Illinois, who graduated from Thornton Township High School, Jamison has two degrees from Wisconsin, a bachelor's in agricultural business management (2009) and a master's in educational leadership and policy analysis (2011). He and his wife, Ashley, have two daughters, Ava and Mackenzie, and one son, Jayce.
"To see the impact Terrance has had on our defense and our entire program has been very rewarding for everyone," said Bielema. "His ability to coach our defensive front in combination with his abilities in player development and recruiting are at a very high level. He will work closely with Aaron Henry and our defensive staff to put us in position to have success daily."
"I'm extremely thankful for this opportunity and eager to continue stacking days," said Jamison. "I would not be in this position without the leadership of Coach Bielema. I knew before joining the Illini football family that this would be the best place to develop players and develop as a coach. This place is special because of the people; our players, our staff, and our coaches. It's FamILLy."
Jamison's defensive linemen anchored Illinois' defense that led the nation in scoring defense (12.8) and takeaways (32). With the d-line led by All-Big Ten defensive tackles Jer'Zhan Newton and Keith Randolph and nose tackle Calvin Avery, the Fighting Illini also ranked in the top 10 in the nation in total defense (3rd, 273.5), rushing defense (10th, 99.8), fewest first downs allowed (7th, 199), and third down defense (9th, 30.1%). The defensive line room helped Illinois to its best season in 15 years, as the Illini won eight games for the first time since 2007 and earned a berth in the ReliaQuest Bowl, the Illini's first January bowl game since the 2008 Rose Bowl.
Newton had an All-American season in 2022, tying for the national lead in QB hits (19), ranking seventh in the nation in pressures (59), and together with Randolph the duo led the nation in quarterback pressures among defensive line partners with 81. Newton tied for the nation lead in TFLs among interior defensive linemen with 14.0, while Randolph ranked third in the country among interior d-line players with 13.0 TFLs. Newton and Randolph ranked first and second in the Big Ten in TFLs among interior defensive linemen, more than 3.0 better than the next closest Big Ten player at their position. When adding nose tackle Avery, Illinois' three interior defensive lineman totaled more tackles and TFLs than any other interior defensive line trio in the nation.
Jamison was a part of one of the best defensive turnarounds in the nation in 2021, helping Illinois to a 5-7 record and ranked wins over #7 Penn State and #20 Minnesota. Illinois' scoring defense (31st from 97th), third down defense (31st from 89th), and total defense (52nd from 114th) all improved more than 50 spots in the national rankings from 2020. The Illini made massive gains in the Big Ten defensive rankings, as well, jumping nine or more spots in scoring defense (4th from 14th), touchdowns allowed (t-3rd from 14th), yards allowed per game (5th from 14th), and passing yards allowed per game (1st from 10th). He led Newton and Randolph to All-Big Ten honorable mention honors.
Prior to making the move to Purdue in 2020, Jamison spent the 2019 season at Air Force in a similar role, where he helped the Falcons to an 11-2 record that included a 31-21 victory over Washington State in the Cheez-It Bowl. That Air Force defensive unit finished in the top 20 nationally in a number of categories, including rushing defense (7th, 100.5), defensive touchdowns (12th, 3), total defense (17th, 319.6) and scoring defense (20th, 19.8).
Jamison also coached defensive line units for two seasons at Texas Tech (2017-18) and three seasons at Florida Atlantic (2014-16), prior to his stop at Air Force. He spent the 2013 season in a quality control role at California before earning his first full-time position at FAU.
Jamison has coached several outstanding players in his career, including 2015 C-USA Defensive Player of the Year Trey Hendrickson, multiple-Pro Bowler J.J. Watt at Wisconsin, fifth-round NFL Draft pick Broderick Washington at Texas Tech, and George Karlaftis at Purdue, who was an All-Big Ten second team lineman in 2020.
A native of Riverdale, Illinois, who graduated from Thornton Township High School, Jamison has two degrees from Wisconsin, a bachelor's in agricultural business management (2009) and a master's in educational leadership and policy analysis (2011). He and his wife, Ashley, have two daughters, Ava and Mackenzie, and one son, Jayce.
