Illini Hire Beathard As Outside Receivers Coach
March 17, 2007 | Football
March 17, 2007
University of Illinois head football coach Ron Zook announced the hiring of former Eastern Kentucky offensive coordinator Kurt Beathard as the newest member of the Illinois coaching staff. He will coach the outside receivers.
He has served as an offensive coordinator for 11 years at three different institutions. During his time at Eastern Kentucky the Colonels set every single season record for offense, while also leading the Ohio Valley Conference in scoring, passing and total offense. Four offensive players earned first-team All-OVC honors.
"I am very excited to have Kurt (Beathard) join our staff," Zook said. "He shares our offensive philosophy and is an excellent teacher. He will be a strong addition to our staff and I am looking forward to what he will bring to this offense."
Before arriving at EKU, Beathard spent one season as offensive coordinator at Bucknell and six years in the same position at Western Carolina. While at Western Kentucky, he coached quarterback David Rivers to a school single-season passing record. He also had two receivers record over 1,000 yards in the same season.
Beathard spent a part of his career on the defensive side of the ball, serving as secondary coafch at Bloomsburg, Pacific and Towson. He got his coaching start at Towson and did graduate work while coaching at Louisville.
Beathard is the son of Bobby Beathard, former general manager for the Washington Redskins and the San Diego Chargers.
Beathard is a native of Manhattan Beach, Calif., and is a 1988 graduate of Towson University. In two playing seasons at Towson, he quarterbacked the team to 4,768 yards passing and 38 touchdowns. He was inducted into the Towson Hall of Fame in 1999.
Beathard and his wife, Karen, have three daughters, LaRae, Grace and Eva.
THE BEATHARD FILE
2003-06 Eastern Kentucky (offensive coordinator) 2002 Bucknell (offensive coordinator) 1996-2001 Western Carolina (offensive coordinator/quarterback coach)
1995 Pacific (secondary coach)
1993-94 Towson (secondary coach)
1993 Colgate (assistant coach)
1992 Bloomsburg (secondary coach)
1991 James Madison (tight ends)
1989-90 Louisville (graduate assistant)
1988 Catholic (wide receivers)
1987 Towson (student assistant)
