News: Illinois Special Teams Coach Robby Discher Headed to Ohio State

News: Illinois Football is set to lose a key member of its coaching staff. According to multiple reports, including Matt Zenitz of 247Sports, special teams coordinator and tight ends coach Robby Discher is expected to depart Champaign for Ohio State, where he will take on the Special Teams role with the Buckeyes as part of Ryan Day’s ongoing staff reshuffle.

Discher has spent the past several seasons at Illinois, serving as the program’s special teams coordinator while also working with the tight ends. During his tenure, the Illini developed into one of the more dependable special teams units in the Big Ten, consistently producing really solid place/FG kickers, punters, and typically remained strong in punt and kickoff coverage. His work in Champaign helped bring stability to a phase of the game that often goes overlooked but can absolutely swing outcomes.

What it Means: Robby Discher Departs to Ohio State

Before arriving at Illinois, Discher built an extensive résumé across both the Power Five and Group of Five levels, including previous stops at Tulane, Georgia, Louisiana, Toledo, and Sam Houston State, among others. That background, plus his recent success in the Big Ten, made him an appealing target for coach Ryan Day, who put heavy emphasis on improving the Buckeyes’ special teams play heading into the offseason.

For Illinois, this departure carries real weight, as Special teams have quietly been a strength for Illinois in recent seasons, dating back to the Lovie Smith era. often providing an edge in tight Big Ten games. Replacing Discher will provide a challenge for Bret Bielema’s staff to maintain continuity in a phase that can decide wins and losses. How Illinois responds will be an important storyline as the offseason continues.

Note: This could also open the door for Illinois to bolster its tight ends coaching. The Illini have been surprisingly inconsistent in this unit during Bret Bielema’s tenure. That said, this opening may open the door for a couple of new faces on Bielema’s staff.

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