Former Illini standout defensive back Terry Hawthorne returned to Illinois in 2025 as the program’s Director of Defensive Player Personnel. Hawthorne was a two-time All-Big Ten honorable mention selection at Illinois before being drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2013, and also spent the 2021 season on the Fighting Illini’s staff.
Hawthorne rejoined the Illini from Southern Illinois, where he spent the last three seasons as the Salukis’ cornerbacks coach. His work with the secondary helped Southern Illinois advance to the second round of the 2023 FCS Playoffs and post marquee wins over Northwestern (2022) and Northern Illinois (2023).
Hawthorne started his coaching career at East St. Louis High School as the Flyers’ wide receivers and defensive backs coach from 2014-20. Following his stint in high school coaching, Hawthorne joined the Illini as the Director of High School Personnel and Illini Relations in March 2021.
Hawthorne helped cultivate relationships with the Fighting Illini’s high school recruits and high school coaches during Bielema’s first season as head coach in 2021. Hawthorne evaluated high school student-athletes and assisted in the transition of student-athletes from high school to college. He also worked alongside the Illinois Athletics Varsity “I” Association to provide alumni outreach for the football program.
Hawthorne played in 44 games with 34 starts during his Fighting Illini career from 2009-12, totaling 163 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, six interceptions (two pick-six TDs), and 28 pass breakups, plus 18 kick returns for 341 yards. He helped Illinois to back-to-back bowl victories in the 2010 Texas Bowl and 2011 Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl, including a Defensive MVP performance at the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl.
Hawthorne was an integral part of the 2011 Illini defense that ranked seventh nationally in total defense (286.2 ypg) and third nationally in pass defense (162.3 ypg). The Steelers selected Hawthorne with the 150th overall pick (5th round) in 2013, and he also played professionally in the Canadian Football League.
Following his playing career, Hawthorne returned to East St. Louis in 2014, where he had won a state title as a player, and helped the Flyers to two IHSA state titles as a coach. He helped more than 10 East St. Louis football student-athletes to Division I scholarships, including five players who were ranked in the top 40 in the state of Illinois in the class of 2020.
Hawthorne graduated from Illinois in 2013 with a degree in sports management. He has two sons, Lennox and Tru.
