The Illinois football team has had tremendous success over the past half-decade.
Much of this success comes on the shoulders of the Illini coaching staff. They have built a culture and a program that is thriving right now.
Bret Bielema has lifted up his coaches throughout the process, too. Now, one of his coaches is heading off to become a head coach himself.
On Thursday, it was announced that assistant running backs coach James White will be taking over Benet Academy in the high school ranks.
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β Benet Academy Football (@BenetRedwingFB) November 20, 2025
We have hired 3x Super Bowl Champion and 3x Big Ten Champion, James White, as our next Head Coach!
Coach White brings along a resume of incredible experience that cannot be beat. Here are some highlights of his⦠pic.twitter.com/0O1bjZVQ6k
White has a ton of experience in football. As a running back at Wisconsin, which was under Bielema, White amassed 4,015 yards and 45 touchdowns. He went on to get drafted by the New England Patriots and gained 3,278 yards and 25 touchdowns on his way to three Super Bowls.
2025 was Whiteβs first and only season with the Illinois program. He got a chance to see how to run a program, and now he will use that valuable information to build up Benet.
This might not be the only coaching departure for the Illinois football program
I wish White nothing but the best. He did a good job as the assistant running backs coach, and honestly, this probably wonβt be the only coaching departure.
For a while now, I have thought that it was likely Illinois offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. would get a shot at a bigger head coaching job. He has done some wonders with the Illini offense, and he has earned a good job that is out there.
Coaches moving up and taking good jobs isnβt a bad thing. It means that Bielemaβs style of coaching and building a program is working. We want to see more coaches on the Bielema coaching tree branching out. If we can just hold on to Bielema, then the rest will fall into place.