Harris, Panos promoted to co-OLB coaches by Fighting Illini

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (Ambush Sports Network) — The University of Illinois Fighting Illini will have two coaches tasked to handle the outside linebackers of the squad beginning with the 2025 season.

Fighting Illini head coach Bret Bielema announced that Trent Harris was promoted to the role on Monday.

Harris spent the 2024 season as the Illini’s assistant outside linebackers coach, helping Illinois to one of its best seasons in program history, finishing 10-3, tying the program’s wins record, and earning a final ranking of #16 in the AP Top 25.

The 2024-25 campaign would conclude with a 21-17 victory over #14 South Carolina in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl in one of the biggest bowl wins in program history, holding the Gamecocks to 14 points under their season scoring average and South Carolina’s second-lowest scoring output of the season.

Harris took over leadership of the outside linebackers’ room for the final four games of 2024, helping guide one of the most productive OLB groups in the Big Ten Conference. The room included All-American Gabe Jucas, captain Seth Coleman, and veteran Alec Bryant.

Harris’ career resume

Harris, a former defensive end at the University of Miami, came to Illinois following a seven-year professional career that included stints in the NFL (2018-22), XFL (2023), and UFL (2024).

At Miami, Harris led the Hurricanes to an improved win total and a bowl game each season from 2014 to 2017. His final season would conclude with a 10-3 campaign and a berth in the 2017 Orange Bowl.

He signed a free-agency contract with the New England Patriots, playing on the team’s practice squad during the organization’s Super Bowl LIII winning season in 2018. At the time, Bielema was serving on the staff under then-head coach Bill Belichick.

Harris had stints in the NFL from 2019 to 2022 with the Miami Dolphins, New York Giants (where he reunited with Bielema), Baltimore Ravens, and Las Vegas Raiders.

In 2023, he played for the then-XFL’s Houston Roughnecks (now part of the United Football League (UFL)), leading the league with 9.5 sacks, tallying 30 total tackles and 12 tackles for loss.

He was a 2024 draft selection by the UFL’s D.C. Defenders, where he played his final season as a professional player before retiring last June.

Panos promoted

Also earning the promotion to lead the OLB locker room is Alex Panos, which was announced by Bielema on Tuesday.

Panos finished his third season with the Fighting Illini in the 2024-25 campaign. It would also mark his first season as an assistant defensive line coach.

He was instrumental in assisting co-defensive coordinator/defensive line coach Terrance Jamison to reload the Illini defensive corps over the first nine games of the campaign. His performance earned his move to the OLB room for the final regular season games and the 2025 Citrus Bowl against South Carolina.

Panos spent the 2022-23 season in a quality control role for the defensive corps before advancing to a graduate assistant on defense in the 2023-24 season. He played as a defensive lineman at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota, but never played professional football.

Bielema remarks

Coach Bielema had nothing but good things to say about his newest promotions within his coaching corps in Harris and Panos.

“…He has impressed me with his knowledge of the game, attention to detail, and commitment,” said Bielema. “I could not be more excited about what I saw from Trent and Alex last season, especially with the way they handled preparations for the final three regular season games and the Citrus Bowl.”

“Trent’s experiences as a college and NFL player and his unique ability to connect with people will be a major asset in our building and also on the road in recruiting,” Bielema added.

“I am excited for the opportunity to promote Alex from within our program after he has shown tremendous growth working with Coach Jamison, Coach Henry, and a number of our assistant coaches over the last three seasons,” Bielema said. “Alex’s ability to see the game is special. Having Alex and Trent lead our outside linebackers for the final four games last season made a huge impact on our defense. We are looking forward to continuing to have them lead the outside linebackers room.”

 Harris, Panos remarks

“My wife and I are grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the staff at the University of Illinois,” said Harris. “I can’t thank Coach Bielema enough for all of the support from New England to New York and now to Champaign. I am honored to continue working and developing our outstanding outside linebacker room, both as players and people. It is an exciting time for Illini football under Coach Bielema’s leadership and I know the best is yet to come.” 

“I am grateful to Coach Bielema, the staff, and the University of Illinois for this opportunity,” said Panos. “It is exciting to continue our program’s climb to new heights by building our outside linebackers into better players and people. The best is yet to come!”

The Fighting Illini kicks off its 2025-26 campaign on August 30 at Memorial Stadium against Western Illinois University.

Jake Leonard

Website |  + postsBio

Jake Leonard, a broadcast media and journalism veteran, is the editor-in-chief of Heartland Newsfeed. Leonard is also GM and program director of Heartland Newsfeed Radio Network, wrestling editor and contributing writer for Ambush Sports, a contributing writer for My Sports Vote and Midwest Sports Network, and a former contributor to Bleacher Report and Overtime Heroics. He resides at home in Nokomis, Ill. with his dog Buster.

• Jake Leonard

  https://www.heartlandnewsfeed.com/author/admin/

  Maps for Nokomis spring rummage sales available now
• Jake Leonard

  https://www.heartlandnewsfeed.com/author/admin/

  Eastern Illinois tuition rates to increase
• Jake Leonard

  https://www.heartlandnewsfeed.com/author/admin/

  Lovington to enlist MAPPING program
• Jake Leonard

  https://www.heartlandnewsfeed.com/author/admin/

  Nokomis Chamber dissolves, donates funds