Reggie Mitchell, a former Kansas University football assistant and current Illinois aide, will be named to new KU coach Turner Gill’s staff in the coming days, the Journal-World has learned.

Mitchell, who spent the past five seasons as an assistant head coach/recruiting coordinator/running backs coach with the Illini, served as an assistant at KU from 1988-96, coaching, at various times, the defensive line, defensive ends and running backs.

Reached Monday night, a KU football spokesman declined comment on Mitchell’s status.

During his previous stint in Lawrence, Mitchell served under former head coach Glen Mason, who went 47-54-1 in nine seasons — including a 10-2 1995 campaign — before following Mason to Minnesota. He then spent six years with Michigan State before joining Ron Zook’s staff at Illinois in 2005.

While Mitchell is expected to coach running backs at Kansas, it’s a safe bet he’ll also play a prominent role in recruiting.

Mitchell arrives in Lawrence as a highly regarded recruiter, particularly in the Chicago and East St. Louis areas, having been credited with bringing quarterbacks Juice Williams and Nathan Scheelhaase — a former standout at Missouri’s Rockhurst High — to Illinois and luring future No. 2 NFL Draft pick Charles Rogers to Michigan State.

In 2006, meanwhile, he was named one of the country’s 20 best recruiters by Rivals.com, and was named one of the Big Ten’s five best by the Web site the following season.

The Illini’s recruiting classes also ranked in the top 30 nationally in three of Mitchell’s first four seasons as the school’s recruiting coordinator.

In addition to his success as a recruiter, a number of running backs have also thrived under Mitchell’s watch, including former UI back and current Pittsburgh Steeler Rashard Mendenhall, who enjoyed the best rushing season in school history in 2007 when he ran for 1,681 yards and 17 touchdowns.

Mitchell becomes the fourth known member of Gill’s new staff, joining offensive coordinator Chuck Long, defensive coordinator Carl Torbush and special teams coordinator/tight ends coach Aaron Stamn.

Gill said last week that he plans to have his staff finalized by Dec. 29.

A message left on Mitchell’s cell phone Monday night was not immediately returned.