Champaign, IL

University of Illinois athletic director Mike Thomas announced Friday that Tim Beckman has been named the new head football coach for the Illini.

Beckman comes to Illinois after three years as head coach at Toledo, where he led the Rockets to two bowl appearances and a Mid-American Conference West Division co-championship.

"I am very excited to introduce Tim Beckman as the new head football coach at the University of Illinois," Thomas said. "He brings an impressive resume to Illinois and is highly regarded within the entire coaching community.

"Coach Beckman sold me on his vision for Illinois football throughout the interview process. He is a proven recruiter, has worked alongside some of the nation's top coaches, will have high standards for academic and athletic success, and is a great fit for the Fighting Illini."

Beckman replaces Ron Zook, who was fired in late November after the Illini closed the season on a six-game losing skid after a 6-0 start. The Illini are headed to the Dec. 31 Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl against UCLA.

Beckman spent three seasons as the head coacl at Toledo, where he posted a 21-16 record. The Rockets went 8-4 this season and will play in the Military Bowl against Air Force, but Beckman will not coach in the game.

"I certainly want to thank Mike Thomas, Chancellor Wise and President Hogan for this outstanding opportunity at the University of Illinois," Beckman said. "We will work tirelessly in building the football program to compete for Big Ten and national championships, and be a source of pride for Fighting Illini fans across the nation.

We will recruit the very best student-athletes to represent the University and will work extremely hard to develop strong relationships within the state of Illinois."

Beckmaninherited a team that went 3-9 in 2008 and led the Rockets to a 5-7 mark in 2009 before going 8-5 with a 7-1 record in the MAC, and a berth in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl in 2010. Toledo posted an 8-4 record this season, including another 7-1 MAC record, a share of the MAC West Division title and a berth in the Military Bowl.

In the last two seasons, Beckman has compiled a 14-2 record in MAC games, second-best in the conference over that span.

"We're excited to welcome Tim Beckman into the Illinois family," Illinois Chancellor Phyllis Wise said. "He understands that excellence, in academics and athletics, is both a tradition and an expectation here. Coach Beckman's proven ability to help student athletes achieve great success on the field, in the classroom and after graduation established him as the clear choice to lead our football program."

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