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Illinois Football to hire Mizzou's Craig Kuligowski as Co-Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line Coach

Tim Beckman is on the verge of making a monumental hire.

By Jim Vainisi
Mike Granse-USA TODAY Sports

UPDATE:

DISREGARD EVERYTHING BELOW. HE'S NOT COMING.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p>Mizzou issues statement from Kuligowski that he withdrew name for consideration from Illinois job</p>&mdash; Dave Matter (@Dave_Matter) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dave_Matter/status/559787826762743808">January 26, 2015</a></blockquote>

<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

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Huge news started to circulate on Twitter dot com last night. According to Football Scoop Staff, Fighting Illini Football is about to hire one of, if not the best defensive line coaches in the country as the team's new co-defensive coordinator.

This would be a monumental hire. Kuligowski has turned Mizzou into a defensive line powerhouse over the last several years; Aldon Smith, Michael Sam, Ziggy Hood, Sheldon Richardson, Kony Ealy, Shane Ray--he's produced an impressive list of NFL talent. Kuligowski, 46, has been with Missouri since 2001 (the same year Gary Pinkel took over the program).

This news is coming after Tim Beckman fired defensive line coach Greg Colby, along with special teams coordinator Tim Salem. Shortly after, it was discovered that the university posted a job listing which stated their intent of hiring a co-defensive coordinator.

How can this hire even be possible? Well, Beckman and Kuligowski both coached at Toledo and, although their time with the Rockets didn't overlap, it could be the possible connection between the two parties.

There's been no official announcement from the team yet. We'll keep you updated on the situation as it develops.

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