Cubit Announces Illini Coaching Staff Changes
Hecklinski and Ricker Both Have History at Illinois; Phair and Cubit Named Coordinators
CHAMPAIGN, IL – Illinois head football coach Bill Cubit today announced several changes to his full-time coaching staff.
Former Illini quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase was named a permanent assistant coach for running backs, former Illini quarterback Jeff Hecklinski was named tight ends coach and special teams coordinator, and former UI offensive line coach A.J. Ricker returns to the same position after two years at Missouri.
Current staff members Mike Phair and Ryan Cubit become the Defensive Coordinator and Offensive Coordinator, respectively. Former Co-Defensive Coordinator Tim Banks is leaving the staff to pursue other interests.
“I’m extremely happy to add Jeff and A.J. to our staff, while making Nathan a permanent coach,” Cubit said. “Nathan did a fantastic job this past season after moving over from an administrative position when the head coaching position change was made. He has everything you look for in a coach in the way he communicates with players and recruits, the love he has for this school and the energy and enthusiasm he brings every day.
“I’ve been very fortunate to have A.J. as a part of my coaching staff for several years,” Cubit continued. “He has experience and knowledge of this offense, and will be able to fit right back in here immediately.
“Jeff has earned the reputation as one of the top recruiters in the nation while working at Ball State, San Diego State and Michigan, and I’m excited he brings that experience here to Illinois,” Cubit said. “He started his playing career here at Illinois, and I know he is looking forward to returning home to his native state.”
Bill Cubit retained the title of Offensive Coordinator while serving as the interim Head Coach in 2015. Ryan Cubit served as the quarterbacks coach and recruiting coordinator in 2015 after joining the staff as director of football student-athlete development in 2014. Ryan was Co-Offensive Coordinator at Western Michigan in 2012.
“I feel extremely confident in both Mike and Ryan as coordinators,” Bill Cubit said. “Ryan was basically the offensive coordinator this past season as we worked very closely on the offensive game plan during the week. I’ve leaned on him both times he has been on my coaching staff as we have very similar thoughts on our offense.
“Mike brought a high level of energy and expertise to this staff and I was very impressed while watching him operate,” Cubit continued. “He is extremely prepared to install a game plan and call his own defense, and it was very apparent that the players responded well to him last year.”
Phair shared Co-Defensive Coordinator duties with Banks in 2015 following 13 years of NFL experience, including his last seven as an assistant coach.
Scheelhaase joined the Illinois staff last summer as assistant director of football operations, but was quickly moved into the assistant coach role when Bill Cubit has named head coach on Aug. 28 following the dismissal of Tim Beckman. Scheelhaase led Illinois to bowl victories in 2010 (Texas Bowl) and 2011 (Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl) while finishing his career in 2013 as Illinois’ career leader in total offense with 10,634 yards. He also stands third in career passing yardage with 8,568 yards and touchdown passes with 55.
Ricker spent the last two years at his alma mater Missouri, helping the Tigers to the 2014 SEC Eastern Division title and an appearance in the Citrus Bowl. He spent the 2013 season at Illinois following two years as offensive line coach and run game coordinator under Cubit at Western Michigan for the 2011 and 2012 seasons.
Hecklinski began coaching at the NCAA Division I level in 2003 and owns more than 18 years of experience coaching football. He comes to Illinois from Colorado State-Pueblo, where he served as passing game coordinator/quarterback coach in 2014, helping the ThunderWolves to a 12-2 record. Prior to his stop there, Hecklinski served as assistant head coach at Michigan, where he was also the recruiting coordinator and wide receivers coach from 2011-14, helping the Wolverines to three bowl games, including the Sugar Bowl, Outback Bowl and Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl. He played two seasons at Illinois in 1992 and 1993 before transferring to Western Illinois, where Hecklinski was a three-time all-conference quarterback.
HECKLINSKI FILE
Hometown: Palatine, Ill. (Palatine HS)
Education: BA in Communication Studies, Western Illinois, 1997
Playing Experience: Illinois, 1992-93; Western Illinois 1994-96
Bowl Games: 2013 Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl; 2012 Outback Bowl; 2011 Sugar Bowl; 2010 Poinsettia Bowl; 2008 GMAC Bowl ; 2007 International Bowl
Coaching Experience:
2015 Colorado State-Pueblo (Passing Game Coordinator/QB Coach)
2011-14 Michigan (Asst. Head Coach/Recruiting Coordinator/WR Coach)
2009-10 San Diego State (Asst. Head Coach/Recruiting Coordinator/RB Coach)
2004-08 Ball State (Recruiting Coordinator/WR Coach)
2003 Arizona (Pass Game Coordinator/QB Coach)
2001-02 Central Missouri (Offensive Coordinator/QB Coach)
1999-2000 Fort Scott Community College (Offensive Coordinator/QB Coach)
1998 Benedictine (Ill.) Univ. (QB Coach)
RICKER FILE
Hometown: Klein, Texas
Education: B.S., Agriculture, Missouri, 2004
Playing Experience: Missouri, 2000-03
Bowl Games: 2014 Citrus Bowl; 2011 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl; 2008 Texas Bowl; 2007 International Bowl; 2003 Independence Bowl.
Coaching Experience:
2014-15 Missouri (Offensive Line Coach)
2013 Illinois (Offensive Line Coach)
2011-12 Western Michigan (Run Game Coordinator/OL Coach)
2010 St. Joseph’s (Ind.) (Head Coach)
2009 St. Joseph’s (Ind.) (Offensive Line Coach)
2008 Western Michigan (Offensive Line Coach)
2006-07 Western Michigan (Graduate Assistant Coach)
Hecklinski and Ricker Both Have History at Illinois; Phair and Cubit Named Coordinators
CHAMPAIGN, IL – Illinois head football coach Bill Cubit today announced several changes to his full-time coaching staff.
Former Illini quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase was named a permanent assistant coach for running backs, former Illini quarterback Jeff Hecklinski was named tight ends coach and special teams coordinator, and former UI offensive line coach A.J. Ricker returns to the same position after two years at Missouri.
Current staff members Mike Phair and Ryan Cubit become the Defensive Coordinator and Offensive Coordinator, respectively. Former Co-Defensive Coordinator Tim Banks is leaving the staff to pursue other interests.
“I’m extremely happy to add Jeff and A.J. to our staff, while making Nathan a permanent coach,” Cubit said. “Nathan did a fantastic job this past season after moving over from an administrative position when the head coaching position change was made. He has everything you look for in a coach in the way he communicates with players and recruits, the love he has for this school and the energy and enthusiasm he brings every day.
“I’ve been very fortunate to have A.J. as a part of my coaching staff for several years,” Cubit continued. “He has experience and knowledge of this offense, and will be able to fit right back in here immediately.
“Jeff has earned the reputation as one of the top recruiters in the nation while working at Ball State, San Diego State and Michigan, and I’m excited he brings that experience here to Illinois,” Cubit said. “He started his playing career here at Illinois, and I know he is looking forward to returning home to his native state.”
Bill Cubit retained the title of Offensive Coordinator while serving as the interim Head Coach in 2015. Ryan Cubit served as the quarterbacks coach and recruiting coordinator in 2015 after joining the staff as director of football student-athlete development in 2014. Ryan was Co-Offensive Coordinator at Western Michigan in 2012.
“I feel extremely confident in both Mike and Ryan as coordinators,” Bill Cubit said. “Ryan was basically the offensive coordinator this past season as we worked very closely on the offensive game plan during the week. I’ve leaned on him both times he has been on my coaching staff as we have very similar thoughts on our offense.
“Mike brought a high level of energy and expertise to this staff and I was very impressed while watching him operate,” Cubit continued. “He is extremely prepared to install a game plan and call his own defense, and it was very apparent that the players responded well to him last year.”
Phair shared Co-Defensive Coordinator duties with Banks in 2015 following 13 years of NFL experience, including his last seven as an assistant coach.
Scheelhaase joined the Illinois staff last summer as assistant director of football operations, but was quickly moved into the assistant coach role when Bill Cubit has named head coach on Aug. 28 following the dismissal of Tim Beckman. Scheelhaase led Illinois to bowl victories in 2010 (Texas Bowl) and 2011 (Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl) while finishing his career in 2013 as Illinois’ career leader in total offense with 10,634 yards. He also stands third in career passing yardage with 8,568 yards and touchdown passes with 55.
Ricker spent the last two years at his alma mater Missouri, helping the Tigers to the 2014 SEC Eastern Division title and an appearance in the Citrus Bowl. He spent the 2013 season at Illinois following two years as offensive line coach and run game coordinator under Cubit at Western Michigan for the 2011 and 2012 seasons.
Hecklinski began coaching at the NCAA Division I level in 2003 and owns more than 18 years of experience coaching football. He comes to Illinois from Colorado State-Pueblo, where he served as passing game coordinator/quarterback coach in 2014, helping the ThunderWolves to a 12-2 record. Prior to his stop there, Hecklinski served as assistant head coach at Michigan, where he was also the recruiting coordinator and wide receivers coach from 2011-14, helping the Wolverines to three bowl games, including the Sugar Bowl, Outback Bowl and Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl. He played two seasons at Illinois in 1992 and 1993 before transferring to Western Illinois, where Hecklinski was a three-time all-conference quarterback.
HECKLINSKI FILE
Hometown: Palatine, Ill. (Palatine HS)
Education: BA in Communication Studies, Western Illinois, 1997
Playing Experience: Illinois, 1992-93; Western Illinois 1994-96
Bowl Games: 2013 Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl; 2012 Outback Bowl; 2011 Sugar Bowl; 2010 Poinsettia Bowl; 2008 GMAC Bowl ; 2007 International Bowl
Coaching Experience:
2015 Colorado State-Pueblo (Passing Game Coordinator/QB Coach)
2011-14 Michigan (Asst. Head Coach/Recruiting Coordinator/WR Coach)
2009-10 San Diego State (Asst. Head Coach/Recruiting Coordinator/RB Coach)
2004-08 Ball State (Recruiting Coordinator/WR Coach)
2003 Arizona (Pass Game Coordinator/QB Coach)
2001-02 Central Missouri (Offensive Coordinator/QB Coach)
1999-2000 Fort Scott Community College (Offensive Coordinator/QB Coach)
1998 Benedictine (Ill.) Univ. (QB Coach)
RICKER FILE
Hometown: Klein, Texas
Education: B.S., Agriculture, Missouri, 2004
Playing Experience: Missouri, 2000-03
Bowl Games: 2014 Citrus Bowl; 2011 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl; 2008 Texas Bowl; 2007 International Bowl; 2003 Independence Bowl.
Coaching Experience:
2014-15 Missouri (Offensive Line Coach)
2013 Illinois (Offensive Line Coach)
2011-12 Western Michigan (Run Game Coordinator/OL Coach)
2010 St. Joseph’s (Ind.) (Head Coach)
2009 St. Joseph’s (Ind.) (Offensive Line Coach)
2008 Western Michigan (Offensive Line Coach)
2006-07 Western Michigan (Graduate Assistant Coach)
