Report: Craig Kuligowski offered Illini job
After getting passed up for the defensive coordinator position at Missouri, Craig Kuligowski could be leaving Columbia according to a report.
Footballscoop.com reports the Mizzou defensive line coach has been offered a co-defensive coordinator/defensive line coach position at Illinois. Neither Missouri or Illinois responded to messages regarding Kuligowski’s offer. It is also unclear if Kuligowski has accepted the offer.
Kuligowski was in the running for Missouri’s defensive coordinator position when Dave Steckel left to be the head coach at Missouri State. Gary Pinkel eventually hired former MU safeties coach Barry Odom from Memphis.
A potential move to Illinois would allow Kuligowski to shoulder more responsibility. However, Illinois is coming off a 6-7 season and head coach Tim Beckman is believed to be on the hot seat in Champaign. Kuligowski would replace Greg Colby and would work with co-defensive coordinator Tim Banks.
Kuligowski has been with the Tigers since the 2001 season when Gary Pinkel came over from Toledo. He has churned out future NFL draft picks such as Sheldon Richardson, Ziggy Hood, Aldon Smith, Kony Ealy and Michael Sam. Kuligowski will also have Shane Ray and Markus Golden selected in the 2015 NFL draft.
Craig Kuligowski was the 2014 Footballscoop.com defensive line coach of the year.
If Mizzou’s defensive line coach does leave for Illinois, Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel would be searching for two defensive assistants. Former safeties coach Alex Grinch recently left to be a defensive coordinator at Washington State. If Kuligowski departs, that also means cornerbacks coach Cornell Ford is the only hold over from this year’s defensive coaching staff.
