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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Dana Dimel, the Senior Offensive Assistant for the Illinois Fighting Illini football team, has died.
Illinois Athletics announced that the longtime coach passed away Tuesday at the age of 62. He is survived by his wife Julie and their children Winston and Joey.
“Today is a difficult day for college football and our Illini famILLy,” head coach Bret Bielema said in a press release. “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, a native of Columbus, Ohio, coached in college football for 35 years following an All-America playing career as an offensive tackle at Kansas State University. 19 of those years were spent on the Wildcats coaching staff under Hall of Fame coach Bill Snyder across three stints.
Dimel was a part of 12 bowl teams in Manhattan, Kan., including eight straight from 2010 to 2017. He and the Wildcats won the 2012 Big 12 Championship and finished in the top 25 of the BCS and College Football Playoff rankings on three occasions. Dimel’s 61 wins from 2011 to 2017 were the most of any offensive coordinator during that time.
Dimel also had three stints as a head coach at other programs: Wyoming from 1997 to 1999, Houston from 2000 to 2002 and the University of Texas El Paso from 2018 to 2023. Dimel joined the Illinois staff this season and helped the Illini to a 9-3 season and a bowl game.
Across Dimel’s career, he mentored 37 players who went on to play in the NFL.