Brenton Illum enters his fourth season at Western State as Assistant Head Coach, Defensive Coordinator and Recruiting Coordinator. He is also responsible for coaching the linebackers. He is serving his fourth year on the NCAA Division II Assistant Coaches Committee.
Illum coached Sione Pongia, the 2008 Mountainer of the Year. Since entering the coaching ranks in 1998, he has produced six All-Americans and more than 30 all-conference performers.
Illum came to Western after serving as an assistant coach at NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision member Missouri State for two years. He was the Bears’ special teams coordinator and had responsbility over the defensive tackles in 2005 and inside linebackers in 2004.
Prior to Missouri State, Illum was the defensive coordinator and strength coach at Fort Lewis from 2001-03. The Skyhawks showed dramatic improvement in takeaways (+15) and points allowed per game (-15) in his two seasons as coordinator. He was also Fort Lewis’ recruiting coordinator and brought in the first winning team for the Skyhawks in 20 seasons.
Illum also served as linebacker coach for his alma mater, Evangel University, from 1998-2001. He was a football and baseball student-athlete for the Crusaders and graduated with a degree in physical education in 1998.
Born in Chicago, Ill., Illum played football, baseball and participated in powerlifting at Washburn Rural High School in Topeka, Kan.
Illum and his wife Molly have been married for 11 years. Molly was a standout volleyball player at Evangel University and has been a very successful volleyball coach at the high school and collegiate levels.
Known as much for his recuiting as his coaching, Illum recruits the Front Range of Colorado north of I-70, as well as the southern California junior colleges.
