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The Illinois Fighting Illini are headed into the 2026 season with higher expectations than usual and a new, yet simultaneously familiar, approach to the defensive side of the football, as told by head coach Bret Bielema. 

Bielema went out and hired former Montana Grizzlies coach Bobby Hauck to lead his unit this offseason and Hauck has toiled in relative obscurity ever since, working to prepare his players for an elite level college football schedule in the Big Ten Conference. 

On Tuesday, Hauck shared a window into his thought process as Bielema's new DC, including how his stint as Grizzlies head coach has served him so far in Champaign, Ill. 

Coaching and Teaching

Hauck is known as a fundamentally sound teacher and leader of student athletes who focuses on the details to improve each player, brick-by-brick. 

"I always think that good coaches are good teachers," the Illini defensive coordinator said according to the team's official X account.  

"The way we operate on defense is not me mandating, 'Hey this is what we're doing,' it's a collaborative effort," he added. 

Being a head coach at Montana allowed Hauck to see the bigger picture of what players demand from those who lead them. 

"I think that spending those years as a head coach is probably training for that a little bit," Hauck said. 

"Being present and helping just a little bit with each position group, and then having a bird's eye view of everything that's going on, I think that really helps when we sit down together and (start) discussing personnel and how to best utilize those people," he added. 

Stacking Six AM Sessions

Hauck and his assistant coaches have stacked 6 AM sessions for months and are preparing to show the college football world their results starting next Thursday vs. UAB in Champaign. 

The early wake up times aren't used as an excuse to lollygag judging by Hauck's demeanor during a recent session.

"If you're juiceless, you're useless," he said in one meeting to a large group of gathered players. 

"Let's crank it up and go have it today." 

Hauck believes his character speaks for itself, and his colleagues and players are taking notice.  

"If you asked one of our players, one of our other coaches, that you would say that, 'This guy's a good guy, he's firm, fair and friendly, he's got a lot of energy to work with or play for," Hauck said. 

He believes in delegating responsibilities and listening to all voices in the room, creating an atmosphere of collaboration that he hopes will help the Fighting Illini defense thrive this season.

"In terms of a management style, you have to let your coaches coach, there's a lot of other smart guys in the room that have had great experiences and understand the game very well, and one of the things that is most rewarding to me is how well everybody has worked and is working together," Hauck continued. 

"It's just been, it's been awesome." 

Hauck went 151-43 with the Grizzlies, becoming the winningest Big Sky Conference coach of all-time in the process. 

Illinois' defense is a bit of an unknown headed into the season, although its defensive backfield is NFL quality.

What Hauck and his players lack in name recognition, they have a chance to make up for in sheer determination, cohesiveness, and, hopefully, results. 

What comes next is anyone's guess, but the Fighting Illini defense has a certain spirit about them that is powerful and unmistakable, and it all comes from the man at the top. 

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