Illinois announces additions to coaching staff

CHAMPAIGN, IL – Illinois head football coach Lovie Smith named Rod Smith as the new Fighting Illini offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach. Smith comes to Champaign-Urbana after six seasons as co-offensive coordinator with the Arizona Wildcats.

“Rod Smith brings terrific and exciting offensive experience to our staff at Illinois,” Lovie Smith said. “His background and development of dual-threat quarterbacks and multiple-threat offenses is the direction we are going here. Rod has developed explosive quarterback play and offensive performance at each of his coaching stops.”

Smith is bringing more than 22 years of coaching experience to Illinois and has coached in 10 bowl games. Prior to his stop at Arizona, Smith was co-offensive coordinator at Indiana (2011), quarterbacks coach at Michigan (2008-10), quarterbacks coach at West Virginia (2007), offensive coordinator at South Florida (2005-06), and quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator at USF from 2001-04.

During Smith’s tenure in Tucson, Arizona established a prolific offense, setting several single game and season records. In 2017, while helping the Wildcats to a 7-6 record and appearance in the Foster Farms Bowl, Smith helped lead an offense that averaged 41.3 points (5th nationally), 309.3 rushing yards, 180.2 passing yards and 489.5 total yards (12thnationally) per game. Wildcat quarterback Khalil Tate rushed for 1,411 yards (9.2 yards per carry), while completing 62 percent of his passes for 1,591 passing yards with 14 touchdowns.

Under Smith’s tutelage from 2014-16, Arizona quarterback Anu Solomon completed his three-year playing career with the third-most passing touchdowns and fourth-most passing yards in UA history. In 2014, Solomon threw for 2,793 yards and 28 touchdowns, with only nine interceptions.

Smith coached quarterbacks under Rich Rodriquez at Michigan from 2008-10 and at West Virginia in 2007. He helped develop two of the most explosive signal callers in Rodriguez’ offensive system, WVU’s Pat White and Michigan’s Denard Robinson.

Smith played under Rodriguez as a quarterback at Glenville State from 1993-96, where he earned his undergraduate degree in 1997. He was an All-American and team captain his senior year. Smith received a master’s degree from Urbana University (Ohio) in 2000.

Smith’s hire is pending approval by the UI Board of Trustees.

Rod Smith Coaching History

2018 - Illinois, offensive coordinator/quarterbacks

2012-17 Arizona, co-offensive coordinator/quarterbacks

2011 Indiana, co-offensive coordinator/quarterbacks

2008-10 Michigan, quarterbacks

2005-06 South Florida, offensive coordinator/quarterbacks

2001-04 South Florida, quarterbacks/passing game coordinator

2001 Clemson, graduate assistant; West Virginia, graduate assistant

2000 West Virginia Tech, offensive coordinator

1998-99 Urbana University (Ohio), offensive coordinator

1997 Franklin High School (W. Va.), offensive coordinator

Smith File

Hometown: Franklin, W. Va.

College: Glenville State, 1997

Family: Wife, Charlene; Children: Alex and Sasha

Years in Coaching: 22

Patterson Takes Role as Tight Ends Coach

CHAMPAIGN, IL – Illinois head football coach Lovie Smith named Cory Patterson to the Fighting Illini staff as assistant coach for tight ends. Patterson joins the Illini after three seasons as the highly successful head coach at Trinity Catholic High School in St. Louis.

“Cory Patterson is an up-and-coming star in the coaching world,” Lovie Smith said. “I got to know him while he was doing an outstanding job at Trinity Catholic, and saw the coaching and leadership skills that will be a tremendous fit at the University of Illinois. He is a high-energy, highly motivated young coach.”

Under Patterson, Trinity Catholic established itself as one of the top high school programs in St. Louis and the state of Missouri. He was named the Archdiocesan Athletic Association (AAA) Conference Coach of the Year all three seasons. Patterson compiled a record of 27-6 in his three seasons, and led the Titans to the 2016 Missouri state Class 2 title game. The 2017 squad was 9-1, ending their season in the state semifinals.

Patterson will coach tight ends for the Fighting Illini, while Bob Ligashesky will become solely special teams coordinator.

Illinois offensive lineman Larry Boyd, who started much of the 2017 season as a true freshman, played for Patterson at Trinity Catholic.

Patterson is a 2002 finance graduate of Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri. His collegiate playing career was cut short by a leg injury. Patterson also served as an assistant coach at Christian Brothers College High School in St. Louis and helped lead the Cadets to a state championship and two district championships.

Patterson’s hire is pending approval by the UI Board of Trustees.

Cory Patterson Coaching History

2018 - Illinois, assistant coach, tight ends

2015-17 Trinity Catholic High School (St. Louis, Mo.), head coach

2013-14 Trinity Catholic High School (St. Louis, Mo.), offensive coordinator

2009-12 Christian Brothers College High School (St. Louis, Mo.), assistant coach

Patterson File

Hometown: St. Louis, Mo.

College: Lindenwood University, 2002

Family: Wife, Tiffany Estes; Children: daughters Nyla and Nori