Bret Bielema added two former Division I head coaches to his Illinois staff, the program announced Monday.
Former UTEP head coach Dana Dimel has come aboard as a senior offensive assistant. Dimel spent the past six seasons in El Paso, and also spent three seasons apiece as the head coach at Wyoming (1997-99) and Houston (2000-02). In between the Space City and the Sun City, Dimel deposited assistant stints at Kansas State and Arizona, including nine seasons as K-State's OC.
"We are so excited to bring Dana, and his long history of experiences throughout his career, to Illinois," Bielema said. "He will be a great voice and another experienced coach on our staff."
Dimel will work under Barry Lunney, Jr., who enters his third season as Illinois's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. The Illini have risen from 110th to 59th nationally in yards per play under the current braintrust.
Illinois also former Kansas Wesleyan and Western Illinois Myers Hendrickson as a senior analyst on Monday.
Hendrickson left Kansas Wesleyan in 2021 as the most successful head coach in program history, going 31-5 with two Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference championships. Hendrickson's 2019 team reached No. 2 in the NAIA coaches' poll, the highest by a team in KCAC history.
Hendrickson left KWU after the 2021 season to take over at Western Illinois, his alma mater and where he played for his father, Mark, from 2008-11.
Illinois's announcements did not specify what Hendrickson will analyze for the Illini. He had joined Mike MacIntyre's FIU staff in a similar role in May.
"I have watched Myers entire coaching career continue to grow over the years," Bielema said. "He has had an incredible amount of success and experiences in a very short window of time. He will work with our defensive staff to forecast future opponents as well as game week prep."
Hendrickson's younger brother Davis was an Academic All-Big Ten outfielder for the Illinois baseball team from 2010-13.
"I'm extremely excited to join Coach Bielema's staff and Illinois football," Hendrickson said. "I'm grateful for this opportunity to work with such an outstanding staff and group of student-athletes. It's an exciting time for Illini football, and I know more big things are ahead for this program under Coach Bielema's leadership. My wife, Hannah, our daughter, Charlotte, and I are excited to be in Champaign and join the famILLy."
Illinois is 18-19 in three seasons under Bielema, including a 12-15 mark in Big Ten play.
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