Bret Bielema’s staff at Illinois is beginning to come together with Ben Miller added as the Illini’s new tight end coach.

Having spent the last 14 seasons at Air Force, Miller brings a wealth of experience to Champaign. At the academy, he spent the previous nine years as the running backs coach, a role that overlapped with being special teams coordinator the past 10 seasons.

“Ben is a very unique blend here at the University of Illinois,” Bielema said in a statement. “He returns after a stint here as a graduate assistant and will work with our offensive staff as well as in special teams. He is from the state of Ohio and will represent us in the recruiting efforts from coast-to-coast and continue to build championship young men for us at the University of Illinois.”

Miller played his college football at Air Force and spent time in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns and then the Philadelphia Eagles. Early in his coaching career, he was an offensive graduate assistant at Illinois.

“I’m beyond excited to be at Illinois and part of Coach Bielema’s staff,” Miller said in a statement. “This is an exciting time for Illini football. I am impressed with Coach Bielema’s philosophy and vision. Illinois has definitely hired the right head football coach with a proven track record in the Big Ten. My family and I are thrilled at the opportunity to be a part of one of America’s top academic universities and the Illini Football program.”

Miller claims his hometown as Cleveland, OH giving Bielema’s staff another coach with ties to a rich recruiting region.