Illinois Football: Art Takes a Step Up

Originally posted on Armchair Illini
By Kirkland Chappell | Last updated 4/15/24

Illinois Football: Art Takes a Step Up

Former Illini Quarterback Art Sitkowski has earned a promotion from Bret Bielema and Illinois Football. The 2022 graduate made the immediate transition to the college football coaching world in 2023, and his former head coach obliged. Sitkowski was known in the locker room among staff and fellow teammates as an extremely intelligent player. As well as a fantastic leader and team guy. The former Illini gunslinger was a great mentor to current Giants QB Tommy DeVito as well. Who had a massive breakout season at Illinois in 2022, leading them to their best season since 2007. Many believed that Art would one day step into the coaching world, but the transition came quicker for the young man than expected.

The New Gig

Bielema had hired Art as the role of a Graduate Assistant to the offensive staff. A great way for #9 to get himself more hands on with the operations of the Offense for OC Barry Lunny Jr. The native of Old Bridge New Jersey served on staff as a student assistant in 2023 a as way to get his foot in the door in the coaching world. The trajectory is certainly there for him to one day find himself as a D1 staffer. Barry Lunney Jr. is currently the OC/QB coach for Illinois. However, it would be to no surprise if Art found himself in a position to step into that QB coach role before his time at Illinois is said and done.

This article first appeared on Armchair Illini and was syndicated with permission.

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