Northwestern is closing in on hiring a new assistant coach, according to a report.

Per ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Northwestern is expected too hire Southern Illinois defensive coordinator D.J. Vokolek as an assistant coach. Thamel says his role is not yet known.

Vokolek would fill Northwestern’s final staff vacancy, which was created when David Braun was elevated to interim head coach following Pat Fitzgerald’s firing.

Vokolek has experience as a defensive coordinator, linebackers coach and defensive backs coach during his career.

Vokolek joined Southern Illinois’ staff as its defensive coordinator earlier this offseason. He also has some experience in the Big Ten. He previously served as a defensive quality control coach at Nebraska in 2022.

Northwestern is also expected to hire former longtime head coach Skip Holtz as a “special assistant” for the 2023 season. Holtz is expected to assist Braun into the role of becoming a head coach. However, Holtz will evidently not count towards Northwestern’s limit of on-field assistant coaches in 2023.

Northwestern will open the 2023 season against Rutgers on Sunday, Sept. 3.