Illinois Officially Announces Mike Bellamy Hire

On Monday it was former Illini Howard Griffith announcing that former Illini Mike Bellamy would be the new wide receivers coach in Champaign and on Wednesday the school made the news official in a release.

"Mike Bellamy will be a terrific addition to the Fighting Illini football staff," said Tim Beckman in the release. "I've had a chance to observe Mike over the past year, and the job he did coordinating campus recruiting visits, maintaining communications with our former players and engaging with the current team was outstanding. He has a tremendous amount of knowledge about the wide receiver position, and as a former Fighting Illini player, an immense amount of pride and passion for the institution. I have no doubt Mike will be a great wide receivers coach and member of our coaching staff."

And, as is always the case, Mike Bellamy had his statement too.

"I can't explain how excited I am for this opportunity to coach at the University of Illinois," Bellamy said. "I always say there are three places that I call home - my family's house, my mother's house, and Memorial Stadium. As an alum, I think it's important to teach our players what it means to wear the orange and blue. This program has a proud and storied history, and I can't wait to pass the pride that I have have for Illinois Football on to our current student-athletes."

"I'm extremely excited to work with the staff Coach Beckman has assembled. Bringing in a former head coach as offensive coordinator in Bill Cubit, an experienced offensive line coach in Jim Bridge and another former Illini for the defensive line in Greg Colby, our coaches meetings are full of knowledge. We're already working together as a unit and I know we'll all put in the hours needed to take this program where it needs to be. I see big things for Illinois football in the future."

Now if Bellamy can figure out a way to make sure that our leading receiver has more than 37 catches for 469 yards like team-leader Ryan Lankford did that season he'll have done his job. That shouldn't be that hard to do.

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