I on the Illini - Defensive Coordinator Ryan Walters Receives B1G Contract Extension (S1,Ep68)

IlliniGuy Mike Cagley talks with IlliniGuys Football Beat Writer Matt Stevens after Illinois announced a new three-year contract extension for Ryan Walters before the end of his first season as the Illini’s defensive coordinator that calls for him to be a seven-figure coordinator through the 2024 season. Under his leadership, Walters’s defense at Illinois has made a 13.3 points per game improvement from last season, the second-best improvement in the nation, while allowing 77.4 fewer yards per game. The Illini rank 35th nationally in opposing points per game, 44th in takeaways, and 42nd in third-down defense. Illinois' scoring defense, total defense, and third-down defense have all improved more than 40 spots in the national rankings. This is a big day for Illini fans as AD Josh Whitman and football head coach Bret Bielema have teamed up to proactively reward their defensive coordinator for his unit drastically exceeding expectations. Whether you live in Champaign or Chicago, halfway across the country or halfway across the world, subscribing to IlliniGuys.com is best way to stay in the know about Illini athletics. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.