Sep 14, 2014; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker coach Hardy Nickerson talks with outside linebacker Lavonte David (54) during the first half against the St. Louis Rams at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

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It looks like the Illinois football team is rounding out their coaching staff with the addition of a defensive coordinator.

It was announced by Pete Thamel of Sports Illustrated that Illinois has hired Hardy Nickerson to be the new defensive coordinator in Champaign.

This is a pretty big hire considering the San Francisco 49ers just hired him back in late January to be their linebackers coach.

The fact that Lovie Smith can pull a linebackers coach away from the NFL to be defensive coordinator is quite impressive.

Nickerson is very familiar with the work of Lovie as well. He worked under Lovie while in Chicago as an assistant and then followed him to Tampa Bay where he was an assistant as well.

In between stops with the Bears and the Buccaneers, Nickerson was the head coach of a high school football team in Oakland, California.

Nickerson brings a lot to the football field that Illinois really hasn’t had in quite some time.

The football playing experience alone is invaluable. He played three seasons at California and then was drafted in the 5th round by the Steelers.

Nickerson spent 15 years in the NFL as a player and ended up making five Pro Bowls and earning First-Team All-Pro honors twice.

In his time as a coach, Nickerson had the privilege to help mold future Hall of Famer Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs. He now brings this great playing and coaching experience to the Illini.

Having Nickerson as the defensive coordinator of the Illini is going to benefit the entire defense. In particular it will help the linebacker core and recruiting on defense.

I expect to see improvements from guys like Mike Svetina and Tre Watson, both of whom are going to be key pieces in the Illini’s success this season.

The recruiting is likely to improve as well. Nickerson’s presence on the west coast will hopefully draw some talented players from California to come to Illinois. That is something the Illini have been missing for a while.

This hire is another homerun by Lovie. Getting Nickerson to come from an NFL team and to coach the Illini defense is an impressive feat considering he is from California and his kid goes to Cal as well.

I am excited to see what this talented coaching staff can put together in the coming years.