Banks becomes DC at Illinois

Jan 18, 2012 - 5:57 PM Champaign, IL (Sports Network) - Illinois has named Tim Banks its new defensive coordinator.

Banks spent the last five seasons as a co-defensive coordinator -- three at Central Michigan and the last two at Cincinnati.

Under his guidance, the Bearcats' defense jumped from No. 39 in the nation in rushing defense to No. 6. The unit also led the nation in tackles for loss, and ranked second in sacks.

"Tim Banks is a great fit for the University of Illinois," said new Illinois head coach Tim Beckman. "He led an outstanding defense at Central Michigan and made a great improvement at Cincinnati this past season. Tim and I worked together at Bowling Green and I consider him one of the brightest young coaches in the nation. Tim will run a very aggressive defensive system that will work very well with our personnel."

Beckman was defensive coordinator at Bowling Green in 1999-2000, when Banks was an assistant at the school.