It didn’t take long for the Illini to fill their lone void on the football coaching staff.

The team announced Wednesday that it hired Chip Long as its new tight ends coach.

Long will be replacing Greg Nord, who left last week for the same coaching spot at Kentucky.

“It’s just a dream come true,” Long said. “Ever since I was about three years old all I ever wanted to do is coach in a major college conference, and to coach in the Big Ten is just a blessing.”

Long’s coaching career includes a recent stint at Arkansas, where he served as a graduate assistant working with tight ends. He also previously spent two seasons at Louisville working with wide receivers and quarterbacks.

He already has experience working with some of the current coaching staff. Long served under current Offensive Coordinator Paul Petrino at Arkansas and Louisville, as well as current Quarterbacks Coach Jeff Brohm, also at Louisville.

“I’m really familiar with the offense so I think it’s going to be a good fit,” Long said. “They (the coaches) are not having to come off their vacation and sit in the film room all day long.”

“I can get moved in and just hit recruiting hard until they all come off vacation and we hit the ground running,” he added. “The biggest change will be getting to know the players and them getting to know me and the way I coach.”

Long figures to fill the recruiting responsibilities of Nord, which is primarily in the south. He expects to work mostly in Alabama since he is a native there, but he also has experience in Missouri.

Long said he hopes to incorporate the tight ends into the passing game this season. The position was effectively inexistent for the Illini last season when passing the ball, but they will try to get the ball to expected starter sophomore London Davis.

For the past two years, Long coached D.J. Williams at Arkansas, who will likely be a preseason All-American and is widely regarded as one of the top tight ends in college football. Over that time, Williams totaled 93 receptions, 1,134 yards receiving and six touchdowns.

The Razorbacks went 8-5 last season, which included a 20-17 overtime win against East Carolina in the Liberty Bowl.

Long had a successful playing career himself as a tight end and wide receiver at North Alabama. In 2005 he was named an All-American and was recently named the tight end on the Gulf South Conference All-Decade Team.