Illinois Football: 3 Potential Defensive Coordinator Candidates

With Aaron Henry now headed to Notre Dame, the question arises as to who will fill the defensive coordinator vacancy for coach Bret Bielema and Illinois Football moving forward into the 2026 season.

Despite several strong overall seasons and the impressive development of NFL talent such as Devon Witherspoon, Quan Martin, Sydney Brown, and Kerby Joseph, among others who have made their way to pro rosters, the Fighting Illini defense took a noticeable step back under Henry’s leadership following former DC Ryan Walters’ short-lived departure to Purdue. While there were certainly moments of success during Henry’s tenure, continual frustrations, in addition to brutal losses to Indiana (63–10), Washington, and Wisconsin, left many Illini fans questioning his long-term future in Champaign.

For Henry, his experience at Illinois, refreshed under a new staff, may be exactly what he needs to thrive at this level as a defensive coordinator. For Illinois, the timing isn’t necessarily ideal, having now spent several weeks diving into offseason preparations. Still, plenty of quality options are on the table and available. 

That said, we broke down three potential candidates who make sense for Illinois Football to fill their DC vacancy.

NEWS: Per Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports, Illini defensive coordinator Aaron Henry is headed to Notre Dame as a co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach.

Henry has been a DC for the past three seasons for Illinois and has helped develop NFL talent including Devon… pic.twitter.com/PgUJdtVVEu

— Armchair Illinois (@ArmchairIllini) February 1, 2026

Terrance Jamison – DL Coach, Current Co-Defensive Coordinator

Illini DL coach Terrance Jamison is the most obvious in-house option. As the current co-DC, he brings familiarity with Henry’s system (understanding both what worked and what didn’t) while also being in tune with the feedback surrounding the defense’s recent struggles under Henry.

His presence would help sustain continuity on the recruiting trail, where he has recruited well during his time in Champaign. Plus, there wouldn’t likely be a major defensive staff overhaul.  While bringing in an entirely new defensive staff makes sense after a firing, this situation is different for Illinois Football. With Henry leaving voluntarily and recruiting trending in a positive direction, maintaining established relationships carries heavy value.

Why it works: Jamison may not be the flashiest option, but he offers familiarity with a fresh perspective. His promotion could also allow Bret Bielema to have a heavier hand in shaping the defense. At just 38 years old, Jamison is still growing into his role, but he’s already built strong relationships within the roster and is well-liked and respected by Bielema and the staff. While this may not be “Plan A,” Jamison is a solid internal candidate if Illinois opts for continuity.

These men, each of them are a gift from God 🙏🏿 #32SQUAD #HTTO #LandofLincoln 1 more 🎳 pic.twitter.com/f5JaWT0ct4

— Terrance Jamison (@CoachJamison) November 27, 2022

Charlie Bullen – New York Giants OLB Coach, Interim DC

The Palatine, Illinois, native is a familiar name for Illini fans. Charlie Bullen spent the 2023 season in Champaign as the outside linebackers coach and pass rush coordinator during Aaron Henry’s first year as defensive coordinator following Ryan Walters’ departure to Purdue, before departing to take the same role at his current position with the New York Giants in 2024.

Beyond his time at Illinois, Bullen’s résumé includes stops as a graduate assistant at Iowa, followed by several seasons with the Miami Dolphins and Arizona Cardinals, before landing his current role with the New York Giants. He took over as the Giants’ interim defensive coordinator in late November following the firing of DC Shane Bowen.

Why it works: At 41, Bullen is familiar with coaching under Bielema and brings extensive NFL experience, which is a major plus both schematically and on the recruiting trail. While returning to the college game would come with some adjustment, he’s the type of energetic and highly intelligent coach who could hit the ground running in a familiar environment. With John Harbaugh taking over the reigns in the Big Apple, Bullen could be in the mix of the Giants’ offseason staff overhaul and looking to head elsewhere. Could a DC job in familiar territory be the direction?

Justin Wilcox – Former Cal Head Coach

Justin Wilcox is easily the most experienced defensive coordinator candidate on this list. His resume includes stops at Boise State (2006–09) under coach Chris Petersen, where his defenses ranked among the nation’s best and helped lead the Broncos to a 49–4 record during one of college football’s most memorable eras. From there, Wilcox went on to spend seasons at Tennessee, Washington, USC, and Wisconsin.

At Wisconsin in 2016, his defense helped the Badgers finish as Big Ten runner-up and later defeat Western Michigan in the Cotton Bowl. That success eventually led Wilcox to the head coaching position at Cal, where he spent 9 seasons from 2017-2025 (48-55).

While his tenure as head coach had mixed results, Wilcox did guide the Golden Bears to four bowl appearances and a Redbox Bowl victory. Amid a significant roster turnover heading into the season 2025 season — including the transfer of quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who went on to win the Heisman Trophy and a national championship with Indiana — he was relieved of his duties by Cal football GM Ron Rivera late in the 2025 season following a 31-10 loss to Stanford.

Why it works: Wilcox brings proven experience and stability to the table, which Illinois’ defense could benefit from immediately. His nine seasons as a head coach add an extra layer of crucial leadership and perspective. Plus, his strong West Coast ties could additionally help Illinois tap into recruiting areas it hasn’t heavily pursued in the Bielema era. The Eugene, Oregon native and former Oregon defensive back (1996-99) could provide both credibility and a steady hand at a critical transitional moment for this Illinois Football defense.

Justin Wilcox. Cal Football. Head Coach 2017-24. Photo Credit: Cal Athletics. Calbears.com.