James White is making the move to the collegiate coaching ranks.
The former Patriots running back and three-time Super Bowl champion has been hired as the new running backs coach at the University of Illinois.
This will mark White’s first coaching role after the 33-year-old back initially announced his retirement just ahead of the 2022 season. White’s new role will carve out a spot on the staff of Illinois head coach Bret Bielema, who has plenty of ties with White over the years.
White played for Bielema at the University of Wisconsin from 2010-12, with the duo later reuniting with the Patriots when Bielema served as a consultant in 2018 and the team’s defensive line coach in 2019.