URBANA - Illinois cornerbacks coach Donnie Abraham was not present at Tuesday's training camp practice. He won't be present for Illini football anymore.

Abraham resigned his position, Illinois announced on Tuesday night. Illinois now has an assistant coach vacancy just two-and-a-half weeks before the first game.

“Donnie informed me that he felt it was in his best interest to leave our staff,” Illinois head coach Lovie Smith said in a statement. “I fully support his decision and wish him the best moving forward. Our current coaching staff will absorb his responsibilities.”

Abraham spent the 2017 season as the Illinois safeties coach.

“I want to thank the University of Illinois, Josh Whitman, the athletic department and Coach Smith for opening the door and giving me an opportunity to coach in the Big Ten,” Abraham said in a statement. “I will greatly miss the players, coaches and staff that I have had the privilege of working with this past year and a half. I know great things are on the horizon for this University and football team. This time away will allow me the opportunity to return to Florida and be a part of my son’s senior year in high school. Again, I wish the University of Illinois and this football program nothing but the best.”

After Gill Byrd was hired as safeties coach/passing game coordinator following the season, Abraham was moved to cornerbacks coach.

"(Byrd has) added everything," Abraham told Illini Inquirer last week. "He’s been great. Great guy. Great coach. Great everything that he’s added to the group. He’s got accountability for the guys and just mentoring. He adds everything that a coach is supposed to add to a group, plus the experience he has coaching.”

Smith coached cornerbacks during Tuesday's practice. Abraham had been present for all other practices during training camp.

Abraham is one of many former NFL players that had joined Smith's staff. Abraham was a Pro Bowler for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the 2000 season and spent nine seasons in the NFL, accruing 38 interceptions. He and Illini defensive coordinator Hardy Nickerson spent four seasons together on the Bucs (1996-99).

After retirement, Abraham spent about a decade as a high school coach in Florida (with a stint in the AFL as well), most recently serving as defensive coordinator at prestigious IMG Academy from 2015-16. He helped recruit current freshmen standouts Jartavius Martin, Khalan Tolson and Sydney Brown in the Class of 2018.

Abraham's wife and children still live in Florida. His oldest son, Devin, played at South Florida and graduated last season. His youngest son, Micah, is a Division-I football recruit in the Class of 2019. He plays at Bradenton (Fla.) East Lake, where Abraham coached during the 2012 season as a defensive backs coach in 2012.

Abraham is the fourth assistant to leave Illinois since the end of the 2017 season in which the Illini finished 2-10 overall, 0-9 Big Ten. Offensive coordinator Garrick McGee and cornerbacks coach Paul Williams were fired, and the Indianapolis Colts hired defensive line coach Mike Phair. With the NCAA adding a 10th assistant, the Illini hired Byrd, Arizona assistant Rod Smith as offensive coordinator, USC graduate assistant Austin Clark as defensive line coach and St. Louis (Mo.) Trinity Catholic High School coach Cory Patterson as tight ends coach.