Overview
- Illinois announced Wheatley as running backs coach on Monday, confirming his return to the Big Ten less than a week after leaving Wayne State.
- Head coach Bret Bielema hailed Wheatley’s proven NFL and college success and said Illinois expects immediate benefits in the running back room.
- Wheatley thanked Bielema for the opportunity and said he looks forward to getting to work in Champaign.
- Wheatley’s résumé includes running backs coach stints with the Denver Broncos (2022), Jacksonville Jaguars (2017–18), Buffalo Bills (2013–14), Michigan (2015–16), Syracuse (2010–12) and Eastern Michigan (2009).
- His head-coach tenures produced limited results at Wayne State (5–28, including 0–11 in 2025) and Morgan State (5–18), though he has developed NFL backs such as Leonard Fournette, Latavius Murray, Melvin Gordon, C. J. Spiller and Fred Jackson.