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According to the Chicago Tribune, Fighting Illini football is expected to hire current Indianapolis Colts assistant Andrew Hayes-Stoker as the program's new wide receiver coach. Alex Marvez initially reported that Hayes-Stoker was being targeted by Lovie Smith earlier on Tuesday afternoon.
Andrew Hayes-Stoker expected to have role on Illini staff: source https://t.co/oo7yPyPuz6 via @sryantribune pic.twitter.com/1ItLnSHkjR
— ChicagoSports (@ChicagoSports) March 8, 2016
Hayes-Stoker played collegiately at TCU, where he backed up LaDainian Tomlinson at running back. His first coaching position came as a graduate assistant with Texas A&M (2005-06). He soon jumped to the NFL to work under Lovie Smith in Chicago (2006-12) and Tampa Bay (2014-15) in various offensive roles.
The Colts hired Hayes-Stoker back in February as an 'Assistant to the Head Coach'.
This addition presumably means that Mike Bellamy will be replaced; he served as Illinois' WR Coach since 2012. Below is a quick look at how Smith's new staff is shaping up.
Current Reported Coaching Staff
Head Coach: Lovie Smith (Link)
Offensive Coordinator: Garrick McGee (Link)
Defensive Coordinator: Hardy Nickerson (Link)
Offensive Line Coach: Luke Butkus (Link)
Wide Receivers Coach: Andrew Hayes-Stoker (Link)
Running Backs Coach: EMPTY
Defensive Line Coach: Mike Phair (Returning)
Linebackers Coach: EMPTY
Secondary Coach: EMPTY
Recruiting Coordinator: EMPTY