Locksley Named Illini Offensive Coordinator
January 12, 2005 | Football
Jan. 12, 2005
University of Illinois head football coach Ron Zook announced today the hiring of former Florida assistant coach Mike Locksley Tuesday afternoon, to serve as the Illini offensive coordinator.
"This is a tremendous hire for our staff," head coach Ron Zook said. "I am incredibly excited that Mike (Locksley) will be joining me at Illinois. I can say undoubtedly that he is one of the rising stars in this business. He was next in line for the coordinator position at Florida and is exactly where Larry Fedora was in his career when I brought him on in 2003."
Locksley worked for Zook for two seasons at Florida as running backs coach and recruiting coordinator, following six years on the University of Maryland staff. While on the Gators staff, Locksley was praised for his recruiting abilities, which earned him the recognition of one of the Top-25 recruiters when the 2003 class was rated seventh in the nation. Last season, UF running back Ciatrick Fason led the SEC and was 19th in the NCAA in rushing yards, earning second-team All-SEC honors. Overall, the Florida offense ranked first in total yards and second in scoring in the toughest league in the country. In 2003, three Gator rushers logged over 500 yards on the ground and each averaged 5.5 yards per carry.
As a Terp for six years, Locksley worked as the Maryland running backs coach as well as recruiting coordinator for five of those seasons. In 1999, the Terps led the ACC in rushing yards with 234.1 yards and ranked 12th in the nation behind the running of All-American Lamont Jordan. Jordan, who was the ACC's 1997 Rookie of the Year, also finished as a Doak Walker semifinalist and first-team All-ACC performer.
A three-year starter at Towson University in Maryland, Locksley played safety and was named the team's MVP in 1991 as a senior. He finished his career ranked 19th on the school's all-time tackles list. He graduated from Towson in 1992 with a bachelor's degree in business administration and marketing. Locksley and his wife, Kia, have four children, three sons Mike, Jr., Meiko and Kai and a daughter, Kori.
LOCKSLEY'S COACHING EXPERIENCE 2003-04 University of Florida (running backs/recruiting coordinator) 1998-2002 University of Maryland (running backs/recruiting coordinator) 1997 University of Maryland (running backs) 1996 Army (receivers/tight ends) 1995 Pacific (outside linebackers) 1994 U.S. Naval Prep School (defensive coordinator/defensive line) 1993 U.S. Naval Prep School (defensive coordinator/defensive backs) 1992 Towson University (defensive backs/special teams)
