REPORT: Aaron Henry named Illini defensive coordinator

Boom, goes the dynamite.

As first reported by Jeremy Werner of 247Sports, Bret Bielema has promoted secondary coach Aaron Henry to defensive coordinator.

BREAKING: #Illini promoting Aaron Henry to defensive coordinator, sources tell @IlliniOn247

Kevin Kane leaving Illini staff to join Ryan Walters' staff at Purdue https://t.co/dAzwFoRqHM— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) December 17, 2022

Henry replaces Ryan Walters, who departed earlier in the week to take the head coaching job at Purdue.

With Walters’ departure and Henry’s promotion, outside linebackers coach Kevin Kane, once seen as the presumptive favorite to ascend to Walters’ chair, will be departing Champaign for West Lafayette as well.