Mike Thomas appears to be sticking to a proven formula when it comes to picking a football coach.

The first-year Illinois athletics director is expected to name Toledo coach Tim Beckman as the replacement for Ron Zook, at a news conference this afternoon, according to a source with knowledge of the process. It would mark the third time Thomas has hired a coach from the Mid-American Conference.

He previously dipped into the MAC to hire Brian Kelly at Cincinnati in 2006 and Butch Jones in 2010.

Beckman led Toledo to a 21-16 record after taking over a program that had been wracked by a point-shaving scandal. The Rockets have gone 8-5 and 8-4 the past two seasons and will play in their second consecutive bowl game.

The 46-year-old native of Berea, Ohio, is making $409,000 and moves into a position where Zook was making $1.75 million. According to Beckman's contract, which expires in 2015, he will owe Toledo $130,000 and forfeit money in a deferred payment account.

Illinois officials had no comment on Beckman. The posting for the job on the university's website was extended this week and expired Thursday night at 11:59 p.m.

The search lasted two weeks as speculation about several candidates peaked and fizzled. Coaches known to have interviewed included Wisconsin offensive coordinator Paul Chryst and Eastern Michigan coach Ron English. Houston's Kevin Sumlin also reportedly had a dalliance with Illinois.

Beckman will arrive at Illinois with a defensive background, including stops at Oklahoma State as defensive coordinator in 2007 and '08, and at Ohio State as defensive backs coach in 2005 and '06.

He has worked under former Ohio State coach Jim Tressel and also served on the staff of new Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer when Meyer was coach at Bowling Green.