Aaron Henry Set to Join Notre Dame Staff, Leaves Illinois with Questions on Defense
CHAMPAIGN - Aaron Henry is expected to head to South Bend, where he’ll join Notre Dame’s staff as co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach, according to reports. The move marks a significant shift for both programs - and leaves Illinois with some pressing questions on the defensive side of the ball.
Henry’s rise through the coaching ranks has been closely tied to Illinois head coach Bret Bielema. After serving as the Illini’s defensive backs coach in 2021 and 2022, Henry was promoted to defensive coordinator following Ryan Walters’ departure to Purdue. He even got a trial run in the role during the ReliaQuest Bowl to close out the 2022 season.
In those early years, Henry helped mold one of the most formidable secondaries in college football. Devon Witherspoon, who went on to become the No. 5 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, was a standout under Henry’s guidance. The Illini also saw Quan Martin and Sydney Brown drafted in the top 66 picks that same year - a testament to the talent development happening in Champaign.
But once that core group left for the NFL, the cracks began to show.
After finishing the 2022 season with the nation’s top scoring defense - allowing just 12.8 points per game - Illinois took a steep dive in 2023, dropping to 93rd in scoring defense at 24.5 points per game. The regression was noticeable, and while some of that could be attributed to the loss of elite talent, the overall performance raised eyebrows.
To Henry’s credit, the defense rebounded in 2024. Illinois won 10 games and capped the season with a Citrus Bowl victory, thanks in part to a defense that allowed 21.7 points per game. It wasn’t the dominant unit from 2022, but it was solid - and it got the job done.
But in 2025, things unraveled again. Despite returning a good chunk of the starting lineup, Illinois struggled to stop anyone in conference play, giving up 28.6 points per game. There were a couple of games that really underscored the issues.
Against Washington, the Illini defense was overwhelmed from the opening whistle. The Huskies scored touchdowns on six of their first seven drives, racked up 449 yards of total offense, and converted 9-of-12 third downs. It was a clinic - just not the kind Illinois wanted to be part of.
Then came the Wisconsin game. The Badgers, who had averaged just 6.7 points per game in their first seven Big Ten matchups and had only four touchdown drives of 75+ yards all season, ripped off two 80+ yard scoring drives against Illinois. It was a head-scratching performance that reinforced the idea that something wasn’t clicking on that side of the ball.
Now, Illinois is facing its first coordinator change since Walters left after the 2022 season. Henry’s departure leaves a sizable hole, not just in scheme and play-calling, but in continuity.
And he’s not the only one leaving. Special teams coordinator and tight ends coach Robby Discher is gone, as is running backs coach Thad Ward.
That’s three key assistants Bielema has to replace heading into a pivotal offseason.
While the defense showed flashes - including a solid showing in the Music City Bowl win over Tennessee - the numbers in Big Ten play tell a different story. Illinois gave up 378.1 total yards per game (13th in the conference), including 247.4 through the air (worst in the Big Ten).
Opponents converted nearly half their third downs - 48.8%, the third-worst mark in the league. That’s not a formula for sustained success.
There’s also the human element. Bielema and Henry go way back - all the way to Henry’s playing days at Wisconsin.
This isn’t just a professional split; it’s a personal one. But sometimes, even long-standing relationships have to take a backseat to results.
Henry’s move to Notre Dame, in a co-coordinator role, is technically a step down in title. That alone raises some questions about whether this was a mutual parting or a necessary change initiated by Bielema. Either way, the message is clear: Illinois needs more from its defense, and Bielema is ready to hit reset.
Now comes the hard part - finding the right voice to lead the Illini defense into the next chapter. With three assistant spots to fill and a program aiming to maintain the momentum of back-to-back nine-win seasons, Bielema’s next hires will shape not just the 2026 season, but the trajectory of the program moving forward.