Ole Miss hired Illinois's wide receivers coach last month.
Now, Bret Bielema is going into the SEC to find his next wide receivers coach.
Sources tell FootballScoop that Justin Stepp is set to be the next wide receivers coach for the Fighting Illini. He'll leave Shane Beamer's South Carolina program to take on the new post.
ESPN's Adam Rittenberg also shared the news.
Illinois lost wideouts coach and passing game coordinator George McDonald last month to Lane Kiffin's Ole Miss Rebels.
Later Thursday night, Illinois officially announced the addition of Stepp.
It's a veteran move for Bielema's Illinois staff. Stepp had served Beamer's first three seasons as the Gamecocks's wide receivers coach but he was being transitioned to coach South Carolina's tight ends for the 2024 season.
Stepp has additional SEC experience from a trio of seasons on staff at Arkansas, and he also had coached at SMU.
After initially working in the high school ranks, Stepp broke into collegiate coaching at Appalachian State.
Illinois posted a 5-7 ledger in 2023. The Illini are scheduled to open their 2024 campaign at home against Eastern Illinois Aug. 31 and then host revitalized Kansas, coached by Lance Leipold, in a compelling Big Ten vs. Big 12 matchup Sept. 7.
Illinois plays its first Big Ten game Sept. 21 at Nebraska.