Jan. 6, 2012
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - University of Illinois head coach Tim Beckman announced the hiring of John Hauser as director of player personnel and Aaron Hillmann as head football strength and conditioning coach Friday. Hauser will coordinate relations with high school coaches and on-campus recruiting, while Hillmann will direct all aspects of the Illini's strength and conditioning program.
"We are adding two extremely important members of our football staff today with John Hauser and Aaron Hillmann joining the Fighting Illini family," Beckman said. "John will play a key role in developing relationships with high school coaching staffs and coordinating on-campus recruiting when we have prospective student-athletes visit Champaign-Urbana. Aaron and I go back to our days at Bowling Green, and he will do everything he can to assist our players in reaching their potential in the weight room and on the field. He is considered one of the best in the nation in what he does. Both are very experienced coaches who will greatly benefit our program."
Hauser helped lead Wayne State (Mich.) to an NCAA Division II runner-up finish as defensive coordinator and secondary coach in 2011, guiding WSU to top-50 finishes in sacks (No. 14), turnover margin (No. 26), rushing defense (No. 32) and total defense (No. 42). He served four years with the Warriors, guiding safety Jeremy Jones to All-America honors in 2010 and 2011, the first defensive player in school history to be named a first-team All-American. Prior to his time at WSU, Hauser spent five seasons at Northern Illinois, including the last two as defensive backs coach. His first three years in DeKalb were as a graduate assistant. He was an All-American free safety at Wittenberg University, helping the Tigers to a 44-6 record and four straight appearances in the NCAA Division III playoffs during his career.
Hillmann brings over 20 years of strength and conditioning experience after spending the 2011 season as an assistant strength and conditioning coach at Michigan. Prior to his time in Ann Arbor, Hillmann served 10 years as head strength and conditioning coach at Bowling Green, where he oversaw all 18 sports. He also spent time as an assistant strength and conditioning coach at Notre Dame from 1998-2001, Connecticut from 1996-98, Cincinnati from 1995-96 and Ball State from 1992-95. In addition, Hillmann assisted in the supervision of the preseason strength and conditioning program for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the summer of 1994.
