Illinois football coach Lovie Smith has confirmed that Jacksonville Jaguars offensive line coach Luke Butkus has joined the Illini staff.

Smith said in a news release Thursday that the former Illinois player and coach will coach the Illini offensive line. Butkus is the nephew of one of the most famous Illini and Chicago Bears players, Dick Butkus.

Butkus played for the Illini from 1997-2001 and spent a season on former coach Tim Beckman's staff. Luke Butkus also was a member of Smith's Chicago Bears staff from 2007-2009. Butkus went to work for the Jaguars when he left the Illinois staff in 2012.

Smith continues to look for assistant coaches. And though he has not confirmed it, Louisville has announced that offensive coordinator Garrick McGee has left the Cardinals for Illinois.