Northwestern, Illinois to play in Wrigley?

Even the voice-cracking humiliation of singing at a Cubs game has not soured Illinois Coach Ron Zook on the idea of returning to Wrigley Field — especially if the occasion is a game against Northwestern. The teams are set to meet Nov. 20, and Zook hopes the teams can square off at Wrigley Field. “It would be great national exposure and a neat thing for both sides,” said Zook, who visited Chicago on Tuesday. “Wrigley Field transcends the whole country.” Northwestern officials, buoyed by the success of the NHL’s Winter Classic, have been trying for more than a year to make a Wrigley Field game a reality. On Jan. 17, NU athletic director Jim Phillips said: “Within the next month or so, we’ll decide if it’s something that can work. There are a lot of moving parts.” – Chicago Tribune

Ron Zook filling out Illinois staff

Illinois will add two assistant football coaches to its staff Wednesday, a team spokesman confirmed. Numerous news outlets have reported the two are Louisville assistant Greg Nord and Florida Atlantic quarterbacks coach Jeff Brohm, who previously coached for the Cardinals. That would add three new members with ties to Louisville with the Illini after coach Ron Zook announced Paul Petrino the new offensive coordinator earlier this week. Illinois is expected to name a defensive coordinator by the end of the week. Kansas State co-defensive coordinator Vic Koenning is believed to be the leading candidate. – Chicago Breaking News

Ron Zook hires Paul Petrino as OC at Illinois

Well placed sources at Illinois tell Football Rumor Mill that Ron Zook has hired Arkansas OC Paul Petrino for the same position at Illinois…

More to come…

Ron Zook fires four assistants at Illinois

Well placed sources at Illinois tell Football Rumor Mill that head coach Ron Zook fired four assistants this morning. They include OC Mike Schultz, special teams coach Mike Woodford, WR coach Jim Pry and QB coach Kurt Beathard.

More to come…

Mazzone Could be New Illinois OC?

With Illinois athletic director Ron Guenther announcing last week that Ron Zook will be back as head coach in 2010, staff changes are expected. It is likely the Illini will seek new offensive and defensive coordinators. Illinois, seeking to run a pure spread attack, could target Houston offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen and veteran Noel Mazzone. Holgorsen is a disciple of Texas Tech coach Mike Leach. The Cougars’ offense ranks No. 1 in the nation, piling up 536.6 yards per game and 40.4 points per game (third nationally). Houston is 6-1 and ranked No. 15 with victories over Oklahoma State, Texas Tech and Mississippi State. Mazzone has coordinated offenses at Ole Miss, Auburn, Oregon State and N.C. State. He most recently was receivers coach of the New York Jets but is now working as a personnel consultant for the Jets while helping coach Panther Creek High in Cary, N.C. Mazzone was considered for the coordinator spots at Miami and Pitt after last season. – Yahoo!

Ron Zook: ‘I’m not worried about me’

Illinois athletic director Ron Guenther said there will be changes in Champaign, but head coach Ron Zook won’t be one of them. “There will be some changes, but there won’t be a change at the top,” Guenther said Saturday at halftime of the Illinois-Purdue game. “There’s a great deal of frustration obviously with the program at the moment. We’re still going to evaluate (at the end of the season), but I think it’s really unfair to start jumping at the end of the fifth year on a guy.” The vote of confidence was the first statement Guenther had made to reporters this season after previously declining requests to discuss Zook’s status. He took only one question and said he wanted to keep Saturday’s discussion short. … Zook said his concerns are more about fixing the Illini (1-6, 0-5 Big Ten) than his job security. “I’m not worried about me,” Zook said. “I appreciate it, obviously. I said this since day I walked on this campus, (Guenther is) the best thing about this job because he understands. I understand he has a job to do as well. We’re going to get this thing the way it’s supposed to be.” – Chicago Tribune

Illinois Could Still Fire Ron Zook?

I understand the vote of confidence for Ron Zook as an attempt to quiet the unrest, but it doesn’t work that way. AD Ron Guenther’s statement that Zook, in his fifth year, needs more time to fix the mistakes doesn’t ring true, especially because Guenther, a former football coach, knows what he sees. And despite what angry Illini followers might think, nobody cares more about Illinois football than Guenther. Maybe Zook will return — because as bad a year as its football team is having, the University of Illinois is having a worse one. An academic scandal has rocked its trustees and its administration, who have bigger problems than football. Maybe there’s a question about whether Guenther should make Illinois’ next football move. The economics of the four years remaining on Zook’s contract also could be a factor. On the other hand, if the slide continues, it’s difficult to imagine the depths the 2010 season could reach. Juice Williams heads the list of departing Illini who aren’t producing this year. But it’s not as if Illinois has a flock of can’t-miss youngsters ready to step in and lead a turnaround. A college football program must substitute the absence of wins with hope for the future. The trouble is, that also is absent at Illinois. – Chicago Sun-Times

Ron Zook will return in 2010

Ron Zook will return as Illinois coach in 2010, athletic director Ron Guenther announced Saturday. Zook has been under fire for the 1-6 start, which includes six double-digit losses. Illinois endured a disappointing 5-7 season last year after reaching the Rose Bowl in 2007. “There will be some changes, but there won’t be a change at the top,” Guenther told reporters Saturday at halftime of Illinois’ 24-14 loss to Purdue. “There’s a great deal of frustration obviously with the program at the moment. We’re still going to evaluate [at the end of the season], but I think it’s really unfair to start jumping at the end of the fifth year on a guy.” Zook is 19-36 at Illinois after Saturday’s loss. He received a one-year contract extension this summer that takes him through January 2014. – ESPN

Illinois AD Guenther strongly indicates he won’t fire Ron Zook

Although Illinois athletic director Ron Guenther remains silent publicly on the status of football coach Ron Zook, Guenther has “strongly indicated” he will not make a coaching change next season, according to Illinois spokesman Kent Brown. As he does every season, Brown said, Guenther will evaluate the program after the season. Guenther has declined to speak to reporters and has no plans to release any specific statements about Zook’s status, Brown said. Zook’s name increasingly has arisen as a coach on the hot seat as the Illini, who play Saturday at Purdue, continue to struggle each week. Zook, who is in his fifth season at Illinois (1-5, 0-4), received a one-year contract extension before the season that runs up to January 2014. – Chicago Tribune

Like it or not, Ron Guenther will move patiently with Ron Zook

And while fans can afford to be impatient, (Ron) Guenther never is. He is a careful, loyal man who has never been prone to quick reaction. So anyone holding their breath waiting for Guenther to fire Zook mid-season should exhale and calm down. “Ron will do what he always does, and that’s to evaluate all aspects of the program after the season has ended,” said Kent Brown, the assistant athletics director in charge of media relations. In truth, Guenther evaluates the football program every day of his life, as he should. It’s the most important property in his department and Guenther, as a former Illini football player, cares deeply about its well-being. But that has never compromised Guenther’s willingness to move deliberately and only after meticulous inspection. Illinois is 1-5 today, and things seem grim. But I’ve learned the feeling changes from week to week. If Illinois was to win at Purdue Saturday, then upend Michigan in Champaign the following week, the feeling would be more upbeat. Likewise, if Illinois loses at Purdue and loses to Michigan, the 1-7 record will feel even more grim. The drumbeat for change will sound more urgently. What if Illinois loses the rest of its games? What if Illinois finishes the season 1-11, which would make the team 6-19 since it arrived in Pasadena, Calif., for the Jan. 1, 2008 Rose Bowl? Guenther’s biggest question is this: Can the football mess be fixed and can Ron Zook be the fixer? Then he has to ask: What is the cost of making a coaching change vs. what is the cost of not making a coaching change? Guenther is evaluating all of these things. There are some who believe that even if Illinois goes 1-11, Guenther will retain Zook for another season. Why? He may believe Zook can still fix the problems, although it’s hard to imagine that Guenther would not insist on some significant coaching staff changes. – Herald-Review

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