NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State head football coach Brock Spack has filled one of the vacancies on his coaching staff with a familiar face, as former graduate assistant coach Ben Black has been hired as an assistant coach and will work with the team's defensive line. Black fills the role vacated by Brian Hendricks, who was hired at Wyoming.
"Since he was here, Ben was always someone I was keeping in mind if an opening would come up," ISU head coach Brock Spack said. "He did a great job for us when he was here and learned a lot from Brian working with our defensive line and front seven. Over the past couple years, he's gained some great experience at Indiana and Auburn which should help him transition into this role well."
Black returns to Illinois State, after serving as a defensive analyst at Auburn working with the defensive line.
"I could not be more excited to be back on the coaching staff here at Illinois State," Black stated. "Illinois is home to me having grown up in Rockford, it's a great time for me personally and professionally. My previous stint on the coaching staff was great and I look forward to helping continue make this defense one of the best in the Missouri Valley Football Conference and the nation. This program has been known to produce great defensive linemen and have strong defenses, so to get to coach that group that's had that type of success is exciting."
A four-year starter at Robert Morris, Black tallied 43 consecutive starts along the defensive line, and was named an all-conference player in 2014 and 2015. After graduation, RMU immediately hired Black as its defensive coach and his work helped Robert Morris lead the conference in total defense, rushing defense and scoring defense in his first season as an assistant in 2016.Â
Black then became a graduate assistant at Illinois State, helping the Redbirds reach the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs in 2019 as they led the FCS in sacks and red zone defense. Following his time at ISU, Black worked for two seasons at Indiana as a defensive graduate assistant before joining the Auburn staff.
GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App: Â Your sources for Illinois State tickets, Weisbecker Athletic Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
Â
