Illinois Coaching Shakeup
Looks like they're going to be in the hunt for a lot of new coaches on the O side of the ball (at least). Here are the first round of names:
Mike Schultz (Offensive Coordinator) Kurt Beathard (Quarterbacks) Jim Pry (Receivers) Mike Woodford (Special Teams)Adam Rittenberg reported this at ESPN. Check out Hail to the Orange for the Illini blogosphere's take. EDIT 12/14: Sorry to bump this old thread but replacements are being named.
Paul Petrino, most recently the offensive coordinator at Arkansas, takes the same job in Champaign. Petrino served as offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach at Louisville from 2003-06 before following his older brother Bobby to the Atlanta Falcons and then to Arkansas. Though the move from Arkansas to Illinois might seem a bit odd, Paul Petrino now will get to call his own plays (Bobby handled the Razorbacks' play-calling duties). Greg Nord, who spent the past 15 years on Louisville's coaching staff, heads to Illinois to coach tight ends. And Jeff Brohm, the former Louisville offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach who most recently held the same titles at Florida Atlantic, will coach QBs for Illinois, according to colleague Bruce Feldman.
December 11th, 2009 at 3:21 PM ^
They're keeping Zook?!
December 11th, 2009 at 3:25 PM ^
How many years are left on his contract? He got a big extension after he took the Illini to the Rose Bowl in 2007, didn't he? Illinois' pockets probably aren't as deep as Notre Dames so you patch up where you can.
December 11th, 2009 at 3:29 PM ^
He got an extension before the season started through the 2013 season (Jan, 2014).
December 11th, 2009 at 3:28 PM ^
How to get rich while not succeeding as a football coach: become a football coach, have at least one good season, get huge contract extension, slack off for the rest. (Charlie and Zook accomplished this quite well)
December 11th, 2009 at 5:30 PM ^
Hugs and kisses,
Romeo Crennel.
December 11th, 2009 at 3:26 PM ^
I don't know much about Illinois, but the fact that he's 2-0 vs RR had to help him keep the job. Maybe a job-saving victory this past season over UM?
December 11th, 2009 at 3:29 PM ^
has won 3 conference games thus far and has won 8 games in two years. I don't think the AD interpreted these wins as "job-saving."
December 11th, 2009 at 6:28 PM ^
Except that Illinois somehow believes that we have a big rivalry going with them.
December 11th, 2009 at 3:38 PM ^
Illinois- (Offensive Coaches & Juice ) + Zook = Only Good things
December 11th, 2009 at 3:44 PM ^
the plaintive wail of a distressed kinkajou is heard.
Poor Mr. Buckets.
December 11th, 2009 at 4:30 PM ^
WTF is your avatar?!
December 11th, 2009 at 3:47 PM ^
I think they need to keep shaking.
December 11th, 2009 at 3:50 PM ^
zook can come to michigan and help recruit.
December 11th, 2009 at 4:10 PM ^
Actually that wouldnt be half bad bring him in as an offensive coordinator.
December 11th, 2009 at 5:29 PM ^
Except Ron Zook has never been an offensive coach at any level.
December 11th, 2009 at 4:13 PM ^
is not a surprise - I think ILL will be going to a pro-style offense with Charest next season.
That is good news in my book, the UM D always seems to get burned by spread teams.
December 11th, 2009 at 4:26 PM ^
Now that "Juice" and Benn are gone, I am not too worried about beating Illinois regardless of offense style.
December 11th, 2009 at 4:32 PM ^
i think you meant to type "the UM D always seems to get burned by teams."
you are welcome
December 11th, 2009 at 4:36 PM ^
Zook certainly wouldn't blame his team's peformance on himself, so the assistants were the most conveneint scapegoat.
The way Illinois played against UM shows that Zook is a major part of the problem. If they played that hard the rest of the season, they would be going to a bowl right now. That falls squarely on the shoulders of the head coach, not the assistants. Zook has proved repeatedly that his teams won't play for him on a consistent basis.
December 11th, 2009 at 6:24 PM ^
an Ohio boy keep his job, I'll bet they get worse next and maybe even loooooooose to M.
December 14th, 2009 at 3:53 PM ^
EDIT 12/14: Sorry to bump this old thread but replacements are being named.
Paul Petrino, most recently the offensive coordinator at Arkansas, takes the same job in Champaign. Petrino served as offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach at Louisville from 2003-06 before following his older brother Bobby to the Atlanta Falcons and then to Arkansas. Though the move from Arkansas to Illinois might seem a bit odd, Paul Petrino now will get to call his own plays (Bobby handled the Razorbacks' play-calling duties). Greg Nord, who spent the past 15 years on Louisville's coaching staff, heads to Illinois to coach tight ends. And Jeff Brohm, the former Louisville offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach who most recently held the same titles at Florida Atlantic, will coach QBs for Illinois, according to colleague Bruce Feldman.