Beckman Adds 3 More To Illini Coaching Staff
(CBS) Illinois head coach Tim Beckman announced the hiring of three more assistant coaches Friday.
Steve Clinkscale, Billy Gonzales and Tim Salem will all be part of the new regime next season at Memorial Stadium.
Clinkscale will serve on the defensive staff where specific assignments have not been announced yet. He worked with the secondary at Toledo where Beckman was fired from.
"Steve brings a great work ethic to the Illini football program," Beckman said in a statement. "He's a terrific mentor of young men and an excellent young coach who pushes his players to be the best they can be. Clink worked with our secondary at Toledo, coached an All-MAC player in Dez Marrow and was in charge of coaching All-American punt and kickoff returner Eric Page."
Gonzales will serve as co-offensive coordinator. He comes to Illinois from LSU where he served as the passing-game coordinator and receivers coach this season as the Tigers reached the BCS National Championship Game.
"Billy Gonzales has been a part of two national championship teams and coached in another national championship game earlier this week, and he brings a great reputation to the Fighting Illini," Beckman said in a statement. "He has coached in four BCS games and has been associated with great success wherever he has been. I worked with Billy at Bowling Green on Urban Meyer's staff. He is an outstanding coach and a terrific person. He and Chris Beatty will do a great job running our offense."
Salem will be the Illini's running backs coach and special teams coordinator. He has a reputation as a good recruiter.
"Tim Salem is a very experienced coach who has a great reputation around the nation," Beckman said. "He has experience as an offensive coordinator and did an exceptional job in coordinating special teams at Central Florida. He has a Big Ten background as a coach at Ohio State and Purdue, as well as a quarterback at Minnesota, where his father, Joe, coached. Tim also has terrific recruiting contacts in several areas of the nation."
Meanwhile, Beckman also announced the assignments for the previously hired offensive coaches. Beatty will serve as the co-offensive coordinator with Gonzales, while Luke Butkus will coach the offensive and Alex Golesh will coach the tight ends and specialists while also serving as the recruiting coordinator.
