I realize that Coach Lafferty is pretty much a legend in Illinois HS football, especially in our region, but I have a
really hard time going with a coach who has zero college coaching experience. There's just so many differences between coaching public HS teams and coaching a DI university that I don't think it would be an easy transition. Just FYI, Nick Hill did have recent experience playing college football (2004-2007), a few years in pro leagues (mostly arena football), a year at a local HS, then two years on the offensive staff at SIU before being named HC, so he's got recent familiarity with the collegiate level of football. I'd be worried that Lafferty might struggle with the whole recruiting and scholarships aspects to the game. Lafferty did play in college, but it was at Monmouth and 30+ years ago.
If we're really looking for someone in the mold of Nick Hill (relatively recent football alumni with a bit of coaching experience), then Myers Hendrickson might be the best option, having had success as HC for a couple of years at Kansas Wesleyan (while on a smaller scale than DI, as an NAIA school, they do offer scholarships), a few other places before that, and also growing up watching his dad coach at various places while growing up. Personally, I'd prefer a bit more experience either HC a DII or school or as an assistant at a DI school, but if that's the route you wanted to take, I think he's probably the best option on that front.
I also agree with an earlier comment that it wouldn't be a bad idea to get some input from previous successful head coaches...hopefully someone has the phone numbers (or email addresses) of the two winningest coaches in WIU history...Randy Ball and Don Patterson.
That reminds me of another name to keep an eye on...not for replacing Coach Elliott, but maybe down the road a bit...is Andy Ball (son of Randy Ball). Grew up in Macomb, played at Western, and is working his way around the DII public universities in Missouri, with coaching stops at Central Missouri, Missouri Western, Truman State, and Missouri S&T. I'd like to see him at least get some HC experience at the DII level before handing the reigns of a DI program over to him though.