Illinois assistant coach Dana Dimel died Tuesday morning. He was 62.
Dimel, a longtime college football coach who was a head coach at three different schools died in his sleep according to a statement from his agent. Dimel had been serving as an offensive assistant at Illinois.
“Today is a difficult day for college football and our Illini family,” Illinois coach Bret Bielema said in a statement. “Dana was an exceptional person, husband, father, friend, and football coach. He affected the lives of countless coaches, players, and staff members for more than three decades in college football. His influence on our program was incredible to witness and be a part of. His infectious positive energy had a major impact on me, our players, and everyone in our building every day. He will be dearly missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife and family.”
Dimel joined the Illinois staff after a six-year tenure as UTEP’s head coach. The Miners were 20-49 in his tenure and went to one bowl game during his time. That came in 2021 when UTEP finished 7-6 after a loss in the New Mexico Bowl.
Dimel started as a graduate assistant at Kansas State and worked his way up through the ranks with the Wildcats under Bill Snyder. Dimel was the Wildcats’ offensive coordinator for two seasons in 1995 and 1996 before getting his first head coaching job with Wyoming.
He coached the Cowboys for three seasons and had a record of 22-13 with the school. After a 7-4 season in 1999, Dimel became the head coach at Houston. The Cougars went just 8-26 in Dimel’s three seasons there and were 0-11 in 2001.
Dimel rejoined the Kansas State staff in 2005 and returned in 2009 after three years at Arizona. He was the Wildcats’ offensive coordinator for nine more seasons before getting the UTEP job. Dimel ran the Kansas State offense as current Texas A&M offensive coordinator Collin Klein finished third in the Heisman voting to the Aggies’ Johnny Manziel and Notre Dame’s Manti Te’o.
Illinois finished the 2024 regular season at 9-3 and will have a chance at a 10th win in a bowl game. It’s the most successful season for the Illini since they won nine games in 2007 and a bowl win would give Illinois its first 10-win season since 2001.
