Football
- Title:
- Special Teams Coordinator
Under Discher's guidance, the Fighting Illini ranked No. 16 and No. 30 in the nation according to ESPN's special teams efficiency metric in 2024 and 2025, respectively. Discher helped Illinois to a 10-3 record in 2024, tying the program's single-season wins record, and a final ranking of No. 16 in the AP Top 25 and Coaches Poll.
Discher developed punt returner Hank Beatty into one of the best in the nation in 2024 and 2025. Beatty led the Big Ten and ranked fourth nationally in punt return average (14.1 yards/return) and was named to the All-Big Ten Third Team and earned Phil Steele All-America Honorable Mention status in 2024. In 2025, Beatty ranked 19th in the nation and fourth in the Big Ten in punt return yards (213), while averaging 16.4 yards per punt return.
Kicker David Olano and long snapper Lane Hansen each earned back-to-back All-Big Ten honors in 2024 and 2025. Along with kicker Caleb Griffin and returner Isaiah Williams, who were All-Big Ten honorees in 2023, Illinois had three straight seasons of All-Big Ten kickers and All-Big Ten returners under Discher.
In Discher's first season in Champaign in 2023, Pro Football Focus ranked Illinois’ overall special teams unit as the seventh-best in the nation. Illinois led the nation in blocked kicks/punts (seven) and had three more blocked kicks/punts than any other team in the nation during the regular season.
Discher came to Illinois from Tulane, where he helped the Green Wave to AAC and Cotton Bowl championships as special teams coordinator in 2022. Discher’s one season at Tulane was one of the best in program history, as the Green Wave finished 12-2 and ranked No. 9 in the final AP Poll.
Discher arrived at Tulane following a season as the special teams quality control coach for Georgia in 2021, helping the Bulldogs to a 14-1 final record and the College Football Playoff national championship. Georgia ranked first in the SEC and top 25 nationally in punting, averaging 46.8 yards per punt.
Discher was the special teams coordinator and a defensive assistant at Louisiana in 2020. The Ragin' Cajuns finished the season ranked No. 15 in the final AP Poll with help from the No. 2 special teams unit in the nation, according to Phil Steele's Special Teams Efficiency metric. Louisiana finished with a record of 10-1, including a 31-24 win over UTSA in the First Responder Bowl, extending their winning streak to seven games. Discher was named to the American Football Coaches Association's 35 under 35 list while on staff at Louisiana.
Prior to joining the Louisiana staff, Discher spent four seasons as special teams coordinator and tight ends coach at Toledo. From 2016-19, Toledo averaged more than eight wins per season, including an 11-3 season in 2017 that featured a victory in the Mid-American Conference Championship Game over Akron.
Discher spent two seasons as a graduate assistant at Oklahoma State from 2014-15. He handled a variety of duties, including coaching wide receivers and tight ends while also serving as special teams coordinator. Oklahoma State’s special teams helped the Cowboys secure one of its biggest wins of the 2014 season, a 38-35 overtime victory at No. 18 Oklahoma in which Oklahoma State returned a punt 92 yards for a touchdown.
Discher was named the 2014 FootballScoop Special Teams Coordinator of the Year, becoming FootballScoop’s first graduate assistant winner of any Coach of the Year award. His unit tied for the national lead with six kicks or punts blocked in 2014.
From 2010-13, Discher was at Sam Houston State, where he began as a graduate assistant and eventually was named special teams coordinator. At Sam Houston, Discher was part of teams that won Southland Conference championships in 2011 and 2012. The Bearkats made it to the FCS Playoffs three times in Discher's tenure, advancing to the FCS Championship Game in 2011 and 2012.
A Kansas City, Mo., native, Discher attended William Jewell College, where he played wide receiver for the Cardinals from 2006-08. He began his coaching career at Kearney (Mo.) High School in 2009, coaching quarterbacks and linebackers for the Class 4 state champions.
Discher earned a bachelor's degree in physical education from William Jewell in 2009 and added a master’s degree in exercise science from Sam Houston State in 2012.
Discher and his wife, Erin, were married in July 2017. He has two stepchildren, Connor and Sydney. The couple has a daughter, Quinn, who was born in February of 2018.
