Illinois linebackers coach Tim McGarigle, who just finished his first season on the Fighting Illini football staff, has taken a position on the Green Bay Packer coaching staff as Defensive Quality Control – Linebackers Coach.
“Coach Lovie Smith and the rest of the coaching staff will have the Illini football program doing great things in the near future,” McGarigle said. “Even though I was here just one year, it seems like so much longer because of the quality of people and relationships I’ve made in just a short time. However, I’ve always dreamed of coaching in the NFL and this opportunity with an organization like the Packers was something I couldn’t pass up. Telling the linebacker group today that I was leaving was one of the toughest things I’ve ever done.”
McGarigle was hired at Illinois by former coach Bill Cubit in January, 2016 after four seasons on staff at Western Michigan. Following the coaching change at Illinois when Smith was hired in March, McGarigle was one of the coaches retained for the new staff. Two of McGarigle’s linebackers in 2016, Hardy Nickerson and Tre Watson, each earned All-Big Ten honorable-mention recognition.
“There is no doubt that Tim McGarigle is a rising star in the coaching fraternity,” Illinois head coach Lovie Smith said. “As much as I would have been happy that he stayed on our staff, I would never want to stand in the way of a coach moving into a position he wanted to attain. Tim is a terrific defensive coach and excellent communicator. I have no doubt he’ll have a very successful career. We’ll try to fill this position as soon as possible with spring ball beginning Feb. 14.”
“Coach Lovie Smith and the rest of the coaching staff will have the Illini football program doing great things in the near future,” McGarigle said. “Even though I was here just one year, it seems like so much longer because of the quality of people and relationships I’ve made in just a short time. However, I’ve always dreamed of coaching in the NFL and this opportunity with an organization like the Packers was something I couldn’t pass up. Telling the linebacker group today that I was leaving was one of the toughest things I’ve ever done.”
McGarigle was hired at Illinois by former coach Bill Cubit in January, 2016 after four seasons on staff at Western Michigan. Following the coaching change at Illinois when Smith was hired in March, McGarigle was one of the coaches retained for the new staff. Two of McGarigle’s linebackers in 2016, Hardy Nickerson and Tre Watson, each earned All-Big Ten honorable-mention recognition.
“There is no doubt that Tim McGarigle is a rising star in the coaching fraternity,” Illinois head coach Lovie Smith said. “As much as I would have been happy that he stayed on our staff, I would never want to stand in the way of a coach moving into a position he wanted to attain. Tim is a terrific defensive coach and excellent communicator. I have no doubt he’ll have a very successful career. We’ll try to fill this position as soon as possible with spring ball beginning Feb. 14.”
