Zook takes the reins at Illinois

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Ron Zook was a winner in each of his three seasons at Florida, though he didn't win often enough for Gators fans used to Steve Spurrier's gaudy record.

Early expectations won't be quite so high at Illinois, where Zook was named Tuesday to take over a program that has won only four games in two seasons.

Zook, a native of Loudonville, Ohio, and a one-time Ohio State assistant, will have longer to establish himself in Champaign than he had at Florida.

"Any coach in any sport, what they're asking for is a fair chance to develop their program," said Illinois athletic director Ron Guenther. "You can't possibly do that in three years."

Zook, 50, takes over the Illini from Ron Turner, who was fired Nov. 22 after eight seasons that included a Big Ten championship in 2001. But the team had losing records in the three seasons since and Guenther decided recruiting problems had "reached a point of no return."

Guenther said he went looking for a new coach with integrity, a commitment to academics and a history of strong recruiting. He called Zook "a perfect fit" and said he knew it early in their first conversation.

"It wasn't 5 or 10 minutes into the conversation with Ron that I (felt) the passion that he has, for not only football and people but for his ability to recruit," Guenther said.

Guenther would not say how many candidates he interviewed during his 15-day search and he would not identify them

"I think this was a great process," said Chancellor Richard Herman, who approved Zook's hiring. "We really did search far and wide."

Zook has a five-year contract at Illinois, worth about $1 million a year, said university spokeswoman Robin Kaler.

"He was, I think, the players' choice," said defensive lineman Ryan Matha. "He's the guy that all the players wanted to come in here."

Zook and Guenther talked last Tuesday, but the official hiring had to wait until a two-week hiring period passed. The deadline was 5 p.m. Monday and Zook took the job a few minutes later.

Florida fired Zook on Oct. 25, two days after the Gators lost at Mississippi State, satisfying a groundswell for his ouster. His record simply wasn't good enough to satisfy fans and donors after Spurrier's six Southeastern Conference titles and one national championship in 12 years.

But Zook coached the Gators for the rest of the season and led them to a 3-1 record in their final four games and an invitation to the Peach Bowl. In three seasons at Florida, he went 23-14 with impressive victories over eventual national champion LSU last season and an upset of Florida State on Nov. 20, the Gators' first win in Tallahassee since 1986.

Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley told Zook earlier Tuesday that he will not coach the Gators at the Peach Bowl.

"Those guys will do a great job," Zook said of the Florida players. "They're guys I'll always be fond of and be close to, but they'll go on and be fine just like we'll go on here."

Zook has 27 years of coaching experience, including six years in the NFL as an assistant for the Kansas City Chiefs, Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints, where he was defensive coordinator for two seasons.