1 day Ago
CHAMPAIGN — If current Illinois football players want to get the glory days scoop on their new director of defensive personnel, they are going to have to look it up. Or ask me. When it comes to bragging on himself, that seems to be a no-go for Terry Hawthorne.
“That’s the past,” Hawthorne said. But the guy could play. Good enough to be the 2008 News-Gazette All-State Player of the Year while starring at East St.
Louis. And good enough to earn Defensive MVP honors for Illinois at the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl. Hawthorne will answer questions about his time on the field.
He is polite like that. But he sees his on-field exploits as not relevant to his current job. Hawthorne rejoined the Illinois staff earlier this month after three seasons as cornerbacks coach at Southern Illinois, where he helped the Salukis reach the FCS playoffs.
His time in Carbondale came after one year on Bret Bielema’s staff as director of high school relations. How does he feel about the second stint? “I’m extremely excited,” Hawthorne said. “It was just one of those relationships that I built when I was here with the staff.
” During a call from Illinois, Hawthorne was asked if he was interested in returning. He jumped at the chance. Why? “I knew what we are on track to be doing,” he said, “and I want to be part of it.
” His role is similar to what he was doing in 2021. “I’m just getting deeper into personnel,” Hawthorne said. Hawthorne is reacquainting himself with the members of the Illini staff who were here during his earlier stay.
He has now worked on the coaching side of college football and the player acquisition side. “At this point, I’m steering toward the personnel side of it right now,” Hawthorne said. “That’s going to my main focus right now.
” The appeal of Bielema and general manager Pat Embleton comes down to one word for Hawthorne. “Relationships,” he said. “Being around good people makes you want to be back around good people,” Hawthorne continued.
Hawthorne remains in contact with his former Illinois teammates, who tell him they like the direction of the program. “Everybody’s excited to have some alumni back in the building that they have relationships with,” he said. The football facilities have changed since Hawthorne finished in 2012.
The Smith Center was a dream then. “Amazing,” Hawthorne said when he first walked into the facility. “It finally happened.
” Hawthorne has an obvious connection to Illinois prep power East St. Louis. The Flyers have sent a stream of players to Illinois and other colleges over the years with first Bob Shannon and now Darren Sunkett in charge.
“The good thing is hot prospects come out of there year in and year out,” Hawthorne said. The prospects at East Side know all about Hawthorne, who is part of the lore. The connection from East St.
Louis to Illinois continues today, with three players from the school on the Illinois roster: linebacker JoJo Hayden and offensive linemen Melvin Priestly and Brandon Henderson. Hawthorne became familiar with other programs in the state during his earlier season on the Illinois staff. “It’s a great value for me because I’m big on relationships,” he said.
Want to make a former star player laugh? Or sometimes cry? Point out that they missed name, image and likeness. “Tell me about it. I’d probably still be living off NIL,” Hawthorne said.
“There are pros and cons to all of it. I like the fact that the players get a chance to gain money and to get what we thought they have had.” NIL would have helped Hawthorne during his playing days.
“Tremendously. Absolutely,” he said. Players today are “living large,” Hawthorne said.
“I’m happy for those guys that they are finally actually getting paid to do what they love.” Money can’t be what drives the players. Love of the game is what matters and that was clearly part of Hawthorne’s makeup.
In high school, he never left the field..
