Barry Lunney Jr.
Offensive Coordinator (Quarterbacks), Illinois
AGE: 47
HOMETOWN: Fort Smith, AR
EDUCATION: Bachelors, University of Arkansas (1996)
FAMILY: Wife, Janelle; and children, Luke and Levi
2022 Illinois Turnaround
Overall Record
Scoring Offense
Total Offense
Passing Offense
Player Development
- Hunter Henry – New England Patriots TE
- 2nd Round NFL Draft Pick
- First Tight End selected in the Draft
- PFWA All-Rookie Team (2016)
- John Mackey Award Winner
- Consensus First-Team All-American (2015)
- 3x All-SEC (2013, 2014, 2015)
- Freshman All-American (2013)
- Jeremy Sprinkle – NFL TE
- 5th Round NFL Draft Pick
- Arkansas Record for Career TD’s by a Tight End
- Reese’s Senior Bowl (2017)
- AJ Derby – Former NFL TE
- 6th Round NFL Draft Pick
- Came to Arkansas as a Quarterback, transitioned to tight end under Lunney and played for less than a year before being drafted by the New England Patriots
Experience
- 2022 – Present: Illinois (Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks)
- 2020 – 2021: UTSA (Associate Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks)
- 2019: Arkansas (Special Teams Coordinator/Tight Ends)
- 2013 – 2018: Arkansas (Tight Ends)
- 2005 – 2012: Bentonville High School (Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks)
- 2003 – 2004: San Jose State (Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks)
- 2002: Tulsa (Wide Receivers)
- 2000 – 2001: Tulsa (Quarterbacks)
- 1999: Arkansas (Running Backs)
- 1998: Arkansas (Graduate Assistant – Offense)
Bio
Barry Lunney Jr. joined the Fighting Illini as Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks coach after two record-setting years at UTSA. Throughout his tenure in San Antonio, Lunney led the Roadrunners to a No. 15 ranking and 11 straight wins in 2021 after improving 60 spots in the national offensive rankings in 2020. Before joining the staff at UTSA, Lunney spent six seasons at Arkansas coaching the Tight Ends and serving as Special Teams Coordinator and interim-Head Coach in 2019. At Arkansas, Lunney oversaw the development of current NFL tight ends, Hunter Henry and Jeremy Sprinkle. In 2015, the pair led the SEC with 1,128 receiving yards and 8 touchdowns. From 2005-2012, Lunney led the Bentonville High School offense to four state championship appearances and 78 wins overall. Lunney also spent time developing 6 all-conference performers and an NFL Draft pick (Courtney Anderson) in two seasons an San Jose State after three successful seasons working with the quarterbacks and wide receivers at Tulsa.
During his time at UTSA, Lunney helped the Roadrunners maintain their position as one of the top teams in Conference-USA in nearly every offensive category. In 2021, Lunney’s offense ranked 11th in the nation in scoring and 34th in total offense behind All-American running back Sincere McCormick. In addition to his All-American recognition, in 2020 and 2021, under Lunney’s guidance, McCormick was a two-time First-Team All-C-USA selection and the back-to-back C-USA Player of the Year. With Lunney’s leadership, the 2021 Roadrunners were one of only three teams in the nation to have three different receivers with 50+ receptions, 750+ yards, and 5+ touchdowns in a single season. UTSA’s 2021 success built off of a record-breaking 2020 season where Lunney’s offense set single-season school records for total rushing yards (2,585), rushing yards per game (215.4), yards per rush (5.21) and rushing touchdowns (24).
Reputation
“I am so excited to bring Barry Lunney to the University of Illinois family and put him in a position to lead our offense…He has had success at every level he has coached and has a system that will help take our offense to a new level of success. He is a great teacher, communicator, and leader that our staff and players will gravitate to.”
Brett Bielema
Illinois Head Coach
