Veteran college football coach Courtney Messingham joined the Illinois staff as an offensive analyst in 2022. Messingham came to Champaign from Kansas State, where he spent the previous three seasons as offensive coordinator.

Messingham helped Illinois to an 8-5 record in 2022, the Illini's first 8-win season in 15 years. Illinois ranked in the AP Top 25 for five straight weeks, reaching as high as No. 14, and were ranked in the College Football Playoff rankings for the first time in school history. Under the direction first-year offensive coordinator Barry Lunney, the Illinois offense made a leap forward behind All-American running back Chase Brown, who finished fourth in the nation in rushing, quarterback Tommy DeVito, who ranked third in the nation in completion percentage, and the Illini's first offensive line that earned Joe Moore Award finalist status.

Messingham brought 17 years of collegiate offensive coordinator experience to Illinois, including 11 years in Division I and five years at the Power-5 level. In Messingham’s 13 total years of FBS assistant experience, he has helped coach 10 teams to bowl eligibility. Messingham helped coach Kansas State to three bowl eligible seasons, where he arrived from North Dakota State after two ultra-successful seasons with the Bison. 

Messingham’s offense reset the North Dakota State and Missouri Valley Football Conference record books in 2018, a year that the Bison went 15-0 and won its FCS-record seventh national championship. The Bison set the school and conference marks for points scored (622), touchdowns scored (80), rushing offense (4,293), total offense (7,076) and rushing touchdowns (54). Additionally, the 2018 Bison set a school record for yards per play (7.37) and ranked second in yards per rush (6.41). 

Messingham went to North Dakota State from Montana State, where he was the offensive coordinator in 2016. That was preceded by stops at Indiana (2014-15), Iowa State (2009-13), Missouri State (2008), and Southern Miss (2005-06). Messingham spent two seasons as head coach at Upper Iowa in 2003 and 2004 while the Peacocks were reclassifying to Division II, before he moved to the FBS ranks. Prior to Upper Iowa, Messingham worked with teams at Missouri State (1999-2002), Truman State (1995-98), Iowa Lakes Community College (1993-94), and St. Ambrose (1990-92). 

A native of Waterloo, Iowa, Messingham graduated from Northern Iowa with a bachelor’s degree in manufacturing and mechanical design in 1990 and earned a master’s degree in business administration from St. Ambrose in 1992. He was a quarterback and defensive back at Northern Iowa from 1985-89.

Messingham and his wife, Carol, have one daughter, Taylor.