Illinois hires former Arizona co-offensive coordinator Rod Smith

Illinois has hired former Arizona co-offensive coordinator Rod Smith as their co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, the team announced Friday.

The move marks the latest departure of Arizona’s old coaching regime.

It's official ✍️

Help us welcome new #Illini offensive coordinator & QB coach Rod Smith! pic.twitter.com/qBBb4Z6Bog

— Illini Football (@IlliniFootball) January 19, 2018

Smith spent six seasons with the Wildcats, joining the team in 2012.  He worked with quarterbacks like Matt Scott, Anu Solomon and most recently, Khalil Tate.

In 2017, the Wildcats offense was fifth in the nation in points scored, 41.3, and 12th in total yards with 489.5.

Solomon saw a lot of success under Smith as he recorded the fourth-most passing yards, 6,922, and third-most passing touchdowns, 49, in Arizona history.

Smith got his first crack at coaching college football from former Wildcats head coach Rich Rodriguez. He worked with the quarterbacks in West Virginia before traveling with Rodriguez to Michigan. Before that, he was a quarterback for Rodriguez at Glenville State.

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