What Really Happened Between Bobby Hauck and Illinois?

So what caused the breakup between former Grizzly head coach Bobby Hauck and the Illinois Fighting Illini? It took just four games, but Hauck is out as defensive coordinator.

I spoke with Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner about what happened.

"Illinois is on lockdown right now, and they're letting Bret Bielema speak for everybody," Werner said on The Daily Drive with Ace Sauerwein.

"Bielema had no intention of parting with Bobby Hauck, and I believe that is true. He said that Bobby Hauck requested the meeting on Sunday morning. Hauck said his players deserve better than what's happening; I think all that is true."

Bret Bielema. Credit: Michael Reaves, Getty Images

What Led to Bobby Hauck's Illinois Exit?

Werner believes all that is true, but he feels like there is something noteworthy about part of the story. Bielema didn't know what the defense's identity was, he didn't think they were maximizing their roster, and thought communication was poor.

The biggest thing, to me, was that Bielema said, "the staff, the coaches were rejuvenated by what happened on Sunday," according to Werner.

Werner thought the biggest thing Bielema said was:

"At the end of the day, this is a complete failure," said Werner on Hauck's Illinois tenure. "A complete failure of an offseason reset on the defense for Illinois Football, which they needed to reset, but it's clear that Bret Bielema picked the wrong guy."

Ohio State wins the Illibuck last Saturday. Credit: Kirk Irwin, Getty Images

Illinois' Defensive Problems Started Early

Saturday's loss at Ohio State wasn't the "tipping point," per se. It was a series of events that led to Hauck leaving.

"I think it's the way things happened gradually over the last couple weeks. They gave up more than 200 rushing yards, I believe it was, to UAB, a program that's supposed to finish at the bottom of Conference USA."

"They missed 37 tackles on the first two weeks... On a key fourth down where Illinois was going to get a stop, there was a communication error where there were 11 players on the field, but one of the players ran off the field and crossed the line of scrimmage, and the other team snapped it, leading to a penalty."

There was a play where Illinois had nine players on defense vs. Ohio State; Coach Hauck was telling Roger Cooper, former Griz coach, the playcalls, and it was taking too long.

Michael Reaves, Getty Images

"Bret Bielema brought Bobby out here to have a well-coached defense that he doesn't have to worry about... Well, the first three, four games told them he had to get very involved. And I think that's what led to these conversations.

LISTEN TO THE FULL CONVERSATION WITH JEREMY HERE

Werner had much more to say about his impressions of Hauck, what the fans thought of the hire right off the bat, and more.