Ron Zook
Encyclopedia
Ron Zook is a former American football
coach and former player. He served as the head football coach at the University of Florida
from 2002 to 2004 and at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
from 2005 to 2011. Zook is a native of Ohio
and an alumnus of Miami University
, where he played college football
. He has worked as an assistant coach in the National Football League
with the Pittsburgh Steelers
(1996–1998), Kansas City Chiefs
(1999), and New Orleans Saints
(2000–2001).
in 1954. He played college football
as a defensive back
for Miami University
, and graduated with a bachelor's degree
in 1976. Zook immediately began coaching football, beginning at Orrville High School
in Orrville, Ohio
in 1976. In 1978, Zook began coaching college football at Murray State University
. Through the 1980s, Zook held coaching positions at a number of schools, including Cincinnati
, Kansas
, Tennessee
, Virginia Tech
, and Ohio State University
.
Beginning in 1991
, Zook served as defensive coordinator
for three seasons at the University of Florida
under head coach Steve Spurrier
. After the 1993
season, Spurrier reassigned Zook to be the special teams coordinator, a move considered by many to be a demotion. Nonetheless, in 1995
, Spurrier added the title of associate head coach to Zook's position.
In 1996, Spurrier promoted Zook back to defensive coordinator following the departure of Bobby Pruett
, but Zook left Florida to coach in the NFL. Zook served three seasons as special teams coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers
, and was the defensive back
s coach for the Kansas City Chiefs
in 1999
. In the 2000
and 2001
seasons, Zook was the defensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints
.
of the NFL, and Florida hired Zook as his replacement. Given the success of Spurrier's 12-year tenure, expectations were high. Zook's hiring was not popular with followers of Florida football, with one fan starting a website (FireRonZook.com) within a day of Zook's hiring that gained national media attention. Many fraternity houses hung banners from week to week either praising Zook or calling for his firing.
Zook was head coach at Florida for three seasons. The Gators compiled records of 8–5 (2002
), 8–5 (2003
) and 7–5 (2004
). While he achieved some success, Zook's record fell well short of what Florida fans had come to expect. In his three seasons the Gators lost more games at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
than in twelve seasons under Spurrier. Many of the losses were fourth quarter comebacks by the opposition, causing many fans to question the prevent defense
which was employed. Zook did not beat a ranked opponent at home during his time at Florida. Zook was fired before the end of the 2004 season after a 38–31 road loss to the Mississippi State Bulldogs
(who were 1–5 prior to the game, including a home loss to Division I-AA Maine). Zook finished the regular season, but did not coach the Gators in the Peach Bowl
because he had already accepted the head coach's job at Illinois. Defensive coordinator Charlie Strong
coached the Gators in the Peach Bowl. After Zook's departure, his successor Urban Meyer
won a national title in 2006, largely with players whom Zook had recruited.
During his time at Florida, Zook did have some notable accomplishments. He handed both the 2002 Georgia Bulldogs and 2003 LSU Tigers their only loss of the year. His Gators defeated three highly-ranked teams in succession in 2003, all away from home (LSU, Arkansas and Georgia). In his final game he defeated the Florida State Seminoles
at Tallahassee, something Steve Spurrier never did. This victory occurred on the night FSU dedicated Bobby Bowden Field
, leading Gator fans to refer to it as Ron Zook Field. Zook had winning records against SEC
foes Georgia
(2–1) and Auburn
(1–0). Zook was regarded as a fine recruiter who brought a great deal of talent to Florida during his tenure as head coach. Following the Gators' victory over Ohio State
in the 2007 BCS National Championship Game
, Urban Meyer
praised Zook for recruiting the large class of seniors who played in the game. Twenty-two of the 24 starters were recruited to Florida by Zook.
as the head coach of the Illinois Fighting Illini football
team. Zook inherited a program which had become a disaster since winning the Big Ten championship in 2001, finishing 1–11 in 2003 and 3–8 in 2004, including Big Ten
records of 0–8 and 1–7, respectively. In Zook's inaugural season of 2005, Illinois finished with an overall record of 2–9, and a record of 0–8 in Big Ten games.
Despite his team's past struggles, Zook improved the ability of Illinois to recruit top football talent. According to one source, the 2006 recruiting class was one of the 30 best in college football. Despite this, they finished the 2006 season 1–7 in the conference and 3-9 overall. While the record did not improve, the play on the field did as the Illini nearly upset top ranked Ohio State in Champaign before losing 17–10. Additionally, the Illini played well against Iowa, Wisconsin, and Penn State (they lost 63–10 the year before; Penn State led 56–3 at halftime) but ended up losing close games (they were down 15–12 at Penn State until Penn State broke open the close game to make it 26–12).
The 2006 recruiting class included Isiah "Juice" Williams
of Chicago Vocational High School, considered to be one of the top quarterback recruits in the country. In late 2006, Zook signed Arrelious Benn
, one of the top wide receiver prospects in the 2007 class. More recently, Zook also won over Simeon High School standout Martez Wilson
along with Florida
prospect D'Angelo McCray. This class was one of Illinois' best in recent memory, being rated within the top 25 nationally by some experts.
On November 20, 2007, Ron Zook was selected as the Big Ten Coach of the Year. Zook also was awarded the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award following the 2007 season.After making the 2008 Rose Bowl
, Illinois was squashed, 49–17, by the USC Trojans
, putting a bit of a damper on an otherwise great season.
, 52–42, in their season opener and to Penn State
, 38–24. After a 27–20 loss to Minnesota
, Illinois crushed Indiana
, 55–13. However, the Fighting Illini fell to Wisconsin
the very next week; Wisconsin had been winless in Big Ten play prior to that game. While Zook's team was able to upset Iowa
, 27–24, a week after their loss to Wisconsin, Illini finished 2008 with a three-game losing streak at the hands of Western Michigan
(23–17), Ohio State
(30–20), and Northwestern
(27–10).
, 21–16. To close out the season, the Fighting Illini put up a fight against Cincinnati, who finished the year undefeated, but were unable to pull off the upset; and the Fighting Illini fell at home to Fresno State in a wild 53–52 game the very next week.
At the end of the 2009 season, offensive coordinator Mike Schultz was released from his contract, and co-defensive coordinators Dan Disch and Curt Mallory were demoted to position coaches. Illinois hired Paul Petrino as offensive coordinator, and Vic Koenning
as defensive coordinator.
was, and he proved to be an invaluable asset on offense, where Illinois started freshman Nathan Scheelhaase
at quarterback.
They started off 2010 by losing to Missouri for the fourth consecutive year; however, they were able to take a 13–3 lead on Missouri, one that almost wound up lasting the length of the game. After the early loss, Illinois defeated Southern Illinois, 35–3, and Northern Illinois
, 28–22. While the Fighting Illini lost to Ohio State in their Big Ten opener, they were able to give the Buckeyes a scare, knocking out quarterback Terrelle Pryor
and holding the Buckeye passing offense almost entirely in check. Illinois then traveled to State College to take on the Nittany Lions
, and Illinois had never won in Beaver Stadium prior to 2010. Illinois handed Penn State a stunning 33–13 loss on homecoming.
They went on to win the Texas Bowl in a blow-out against Baylor.
, 33–15, and blasting South Dakota State
, 56–3, the Fighting Illini won a trio of home games by a margin of a field goal over 22nd-ranked Arizona State
(17–14), Western Michigan
(23–20), and Northwestern
(38–35) in a game where Illinois rallied from a 28-10 deficit in the second half. After defeating Indiana
, 41–20, in Illinois' first road game of the season, the Illini were 6–0 for the first time since 1951 and climbed to 15th in the Coaches' Poll and 16th in the AP Poll
. However, the Illini lost, 17–7, to Ohio State
and the season seemed headed towards a downward spiral as Illinois lost a pair of close road games at Purdue
(21–14) and Penn State
(10–7). Illinois returned home and lost to Michigan
, 31–14. On the Tuesday before the Wisconsin game, Zook opened his weekly press conference by warning the reporters to ask questions about the upcoming game and not about his job status. When reporter Shannon Ryan of the Chicago Tribune
asked Zook if he had talked to his players about the rumors pertaining to his future, he promptly walked out of the press conference. The Illini went on to lose to Wisconsin
, 28–17, and finished the regular season with a 27–7 loss to Minnesota
. With the loss to the Golden Gophers, Illinois became the first team in NCAA Division I FBS history to start a season 6–0, and end it at 6–6. Zook was fired on November 27, 2011. His final record at Illinois was 34–50.
coached the Gators in the Peach Bowl
. Florida credits the regular season to Zook and the Peach Bowl to Strong.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
coach and former player. He served as the head football coach at the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
from 2002 to 2004 and at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
from 2005 to 2011. Zook is a native of Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
and an alumnus of Miami University
Miami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
, where he played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
. He has worked as an assistant coach in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
with the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
(1996–1998), Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
(1999), and New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
(2000–2001).
Early career
Ron Zook was born in Loudonville, OhioLoudonville, Ohio
Loudonville is a village in Ashland and Holmes counties in the U.S. state of Ohio. The population was 2,906 at the 2000 census. Loudonville is nicknamed the "Canoe Capital of Ohio" for the many canoe liveries along the Mohican River...
in 1954. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
as a defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
for Miami University
Miami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
, and graduated with a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in 1976. Zook immediately began coaching football, beginning at Orrville High School
Orrville High School
Orrville High School is a public high school in Orrville, Ohio. It is the only high school in the Orrville City School District. Their nickname is the Red Riders.-Ohio High School Athletic Association State Championships:* Boys Football – 1998...
in Orrville, Ohio
Orrville, Ohio
Orrville is a city in Wayne County, Ohio, United States. The population was 8,551 at the 2000 census.The J.M. Smucker Co., owner of the Smucker's brand, is headquartered in Orrville.-Geography:Orrville is located at ....
in 1976. In 1978, Zook began coaching college football at Murray State University
Murray State University
Murray State University, located in the city of Murray, Kentucky, is a four-year public university with approximately 10,400 students. The school is Kentucky’s only public university to be listed in the U.S.News & World Report regional university top tier for the past 20 consecutive years...
. Through the 1980s, Zook held coaching positions at a number of schools, including Cincinnati
Cincinnati Bearcats football
The Cincinnati Bearcats football program represents the University of Cincinnati in a college football. They compete at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level as members of the Big East Conference. The Bearcat football program is one of the nation's oldest, having fielded a team as...
, Kansas
Kansas Jayhawks football
The Kansas Jayhawks football program is the intercollegiate football program of the University of Kansas Jayhawks. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I, and the team competes in the Big 12 Conference....
, Tennessee
Tennessee Volunteers football
The Tennessee Volunteers football team are an American college football team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville . The NCAA Division I team is also a member of the Southeastern Conference ....
, Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech Hokies football
The Virginia Tech Hokies football team is a college football program that competes in NCAA Division I-FBS, in the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference. They have more wins in team history than any other program in the ACC. Their home games are played at Lane Stadium which seats over...
, and Ohio State University
Ohio State Buckeyes football
The Ohio State Buckeyes football team is an intercollegiate varsity sports team of The Ohio State University. The team is a member of the Big Ten Conference of the NCAA, playing at the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, formerly Division I-A, level. The team nickname is derived from the state...
.
Beginning in 1991
1991 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 1991 NCAA Division I-A football season ended with a split champion for the second consecutive season. Both the Miami Hurricanes and the Washington Huskies finished the season undefeated and with the top ranking in a nationally recognized poll...
, Zook served as defensive coordinator
Defensive coordinator
A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a gridiron football team who is in charge of the defense. Generally, along with his offensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
for three seasons at the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
under head coach Steve Spurrier
Steve Spurrier
Stephen Orr Spurrier is an American college football coach and player. Spurrier is the current head coach of the University of South Carolina's Gamecocks football team. He is also a former professional player and coach...
. After the 1993
1993 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 1993 NCAA Division I-A football season saw Florida State crowned national champions, but not without controversy.Under the Bowl Coalition, undefeated Big 8 champ and #2 ranked Nebraska hosted ACC champ and #1 ranked Florida State in the Orange Bowl...
season, Spurrier reassigned Zook to be the special teams coordinator, a move considered by many to be a demotion. Nonetheless, in 1995
1995 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 1995 NCAA Division I-A football season was the first year of the Bowl Alliance and was a relatively calm year compared to the early 1990s.Tom Osborne led Nebraska to its second straight national title with a victory over Florida in the Fiesta Bowl....
, Spurrier added the title of associate head coach to Zook's position.
In 1996, Spurrier promoted Zook back to defensive coordinator following the departure of Bobby Pruett
Bob Pruett
Bob Pruett is best known as the former head football coach of the Marshall University Thundering Herd for nine seasons from 1996 to 2004...
, but Zook left Florida to coach in the NFL. Zook served three seasons as special teams coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
, and was the defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
s coach for the Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
in 1999
1999 NFL season
The 1999 NFL season was the 80th regular season of the National Football League. The Cleveland Browns returned to the field for the first time since the 1995 season...
. In the 2000
2000 NFL season
The 2000 NFL season was the 81st regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XXXV when the Baltimore Ravens defeated the New York Giants.Week 1 of the season reverted to Labor Day weekend in 2000...
and 2001
2001 NFL season
The 2001 NFL season was the 82nd regular season of the National Football League.Following a pattern set in 1999, the first week of the season was permanently moved to the weekend following Labor Day...
seasons, Zook was the defensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
.
University of Florida
In January 2002 Spurrier resigned to become the head coach of the Washington RedskinsWashington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
of the NFL, and Florida hired Zook as his replacement. Given the success of Spurrier's 12-year tenure, expectations were high. Zook's hiring was not popular with followers of Florida football, with one fan starting a website (FireRonZook.com) within a day of Zook's hiring that gained national media attention. Many fraternity houses hung banners from week to week either praising Zook or calling for his firing.
Zook was head coach at Florida for three seasons. The Gators compiled records of 8–5 (2002
2002 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 2002 NCAA Division I-A football season ended the season with what most consider an exciting double overtime national championship game. Ohio State and Miami both came into the Fiesta Bowl undefeated. The underdog Buckeyes defeated the Hurricanes 31–24, ending Miami's 34 game winning...
), 8–5 (2003
2003 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 2003 NCAA Division I-A football season ended with an abundance of controversy, resulting in a split national championship. This was the first split title since the inception of the BCS, something the BCS intended to eliminate....
) and 7–5 (2004
2004 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 2004 NCAA Division I-A football season ended with several undefeated teams vying for a spot in the national title game, triggering controversy. In the 2003 season, no team finished the regular season unbeaten, and five teams finished the season with one loss...
). While he achieved some success, Zook's record fell well short of what Florida fans had come to expect. In his three seasons the Gators lost more games at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field is the football stadium for the University of Florida and the home field of the university's Florida Gators football team. It is located on the university's Gainesville, Florida campus. The stadium was originally built in 1930, and has been regularly...
than in twelve seasons under Spurrier. Many of the losses were fourth quarter comebacks by the opposition, causing many fans to question the prevent defense
Prevent defense
Prevent defense is an American football defensive alignment that uses seven or more defensive backs or players in a defensive back role, the goal of which is to prevent the opposing offense from completing a long pass...
which was employed. Zook did not beat a ranked opponent at home during his time at Florida. Zook was fired before the end of the 2004 season after a 38–31 road loss to the Mississippi State Bulldogs
Mississippi State Bulldogs football
The Mississippi State Bulldogs football program represents Mississippi State University in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, competing as a member of the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference. Mississippi State has produced 38 All-Americans, 171 All-SEC selections, and 124...
(who were 1–5 prior to the game, including a home loss to Division I-AA Maine). Zook finished the regular season, but did not coach the Gators in the Peach Bowl
2004 Peach Bowl (December)
The 2004 December edition of the Peach Bowl featured the Miami Hurricanes and the Florida Gators.Miami took a 7-0 lead when it blocked a Florida field goal attempt, and Devin Hester returned the ball 78 yards for a touchdown. In the second quarter, Matt Leach kicked a 34-yard field goal to male it...
because he had already accepted the head coach's job at Illinois. Defensive coordinator Charlie Strong
Charlie Strong
Charlie R. Strong is an American college football coach and former player. Strong is a native of Arkansas and graduated from the University of Central Arkansas, where he played college football...
coached the Gators in the Peach Bowl. After Zook's departure, his successor Urban Meyer
Urban Meyer
Urban Frank Meyer, III is an American football coach and former player. He is head football coach at Ohio State University, having been hired for the position in November 2011...
won a national title in 2006, largely with players whom Zook had recruited.
During his time at Florida, Zook did have some notable accomplishments. He handed both the 2002 Georgia Bulldogs and 2003 LSU Tigers their only loss of the year. His Gators defeated three highly-ranked teams in succession in 2003, all away from home (LSU, Arkansas and Georgia). In his final game he defeated the Florida State Seminoles
Florida State Seminoles football
The Florida State Seminoles football team represents Florida State University in college football. The Florida State Seminoles compete in NCAA Division I-FBS and are members of the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
at Tallahassee, something Steve Spurrier never did. This victory occurred on the night FSU dedicated Bobby Bowden Field
Bobby Bowden Field at Doak Campbell Stadium
Bobby Bowden Field at Doak Campbell Stadium is the football stadium on the campus of the Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida. It is the home venue for the university's football team, nicknamed the Seminoles. The stadium was named for Doak S...
, leading Gator fans to refer to it as Ron Zook Field. Zook had winning records against SEC
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
foes Georgia
Georgia Bulldogs football
The Georgia Bulldogs football team represents the University of Georgia in football. The Bulldogs are a member of the Southeastern Conference and are frequently a top-25 team. The University of Georgia has had a football team since 1892 and has an all-time record of 738–398–54...
(2–1) and Auburn
Auburn Tigers football
Only Mohamed Amin Abughadir set the record with 1,890 yards in 1 season. He was the QB for Auburn in 1998.The Auburn Tigers football team represents Auburn University in college football as a member of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, competing in the Western Division of the...
(1–0). Zook was regarded as a fine recruiter who brought a great deal of talent to Florida during his tenure as head coach. Following the Gators' victory over Ohio State
2006 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
The 2006 Ohio State Buckeyes football team was an American football team representing the Ohio State University in the college football season of 2006-2007. The team's head coach was Jim Tressel. The Buckeyes played their home games in Ohio Stadium...
in the 2007 BCS National Championship Game
2007 BCS National Championship Game
The 2007 BCS National Championship Game, sponsored by Tostitos, was an American football game played at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on January 8, 2007. The BCS No. 2 Florida Gators defeated the No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes, 41–14. The Buckeyes secured a spot by finishing...
, Urban Meyer
Urban Meyer
Urban Frank Meyer, III is an American football coach and former player. He is head football coach at Ohio State University, having been hired for the position in November 2011...
praised Zook for recruiting the large class of seniors who played in the game. Twenty-two of the 24 starters were recruited to Florida by Zook.
University of Illinois
In 2005, the University of Illinois hired Zook to replace Ron TurnerRon Turner (football coach)
Ron Turner is an American football coach. He is currently the quarterbacks coach for the Indianapolis Colts. He was previously the head coach of the Illinois Fighting Illini football team from 1997 to 2004...
as the head coach of the Illinois Fighting Illini football
Illinois Fighting Illini football
The Illinois Fighting Illini are a major college football program, representing the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. They compete in NCAA Division I-A and the Big Ten Conference.-Current staff:-All-time win/loss/tie record:*563-513-51...
team. Zook inherited a program which had become a disaster since winning the Big Ten championship in 2001, finishing 1–11 in 2003 and 3–8 in 2004, including Big Ten
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
records of 0–8 and 1–7, respectively. In Zook's inaugural season of 2005, Illinois finished with an overall record of 2–9, and a record of 0–8 in Big Ten games.
Despite his team's past struggles, Zook improved the ability of Illinois to recruit top football talent. According to one source, the 2006 recruiting class was one of the 30 best in college football. Despite this, they finished the 2006 season 1–7 in the conference and 3-9 overall. While the record did not improve, the play on the field did as the Illini nearly upset top ranked Ohio State in Champaign before losing 17–10. Additionally, the Illini played well against Iowa, Wisconsin, and Penn State (they lost 63–10 the year before; Penn State led 56–3 at halftime) but ended up losing close games (they were down 15–12 at Penn State until Penn State broke open the close game to make it 26–12).
The 2006 recruiting class included Isiah "Juice" Williams
Isiah Williams
Isiah John "Juice" Williams is an American football quarterback who is currently signed to the Chicago Slaughter of the Indoor Football League. He was undrafted in 2010...
of Chicago Vocational High School, considered to be one of the top quarterback recruits in the country. In late 2006, Zook signed Arrelious Benn
Arrelious Benn
-External links:**...
, one of the top wide receiver prospects in the 2007 class. More recently, Zook also won over Simeon High School standout Martez Wilson
Martez Wilson
Martez Jerome Wilson is an American football linebacker for the New Orleans Saints. Wilson is considered to be one of the best outside linebackers of his class....
along with Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
prospect D'Angelo McCray. This class was one of Illinois' best in recent memory, being rated within the top 25 nationally by some experts.
2007 season
Zook's recruiting success finally began to pay dividends during the 2007 season. After losing a close game on neutral turf to a Missouri squad which went on to be ranked as high as #1, the Illini ran off five straight wins, including back-to-back home wins over Penn State and Wisconsin. Illinois' 5–1 start gave them a #18 ranking in the AP Poll. This was Illinois' first ranking in the AP Poll since the end of the 2001 season. However, the ranking proved to be short-lived after consecutive losses to Iowa and Michigan. A homecoming win over Ball State gave the Illini bowl eligibility and a blowout win at Minnesota all but assured Zook's first bowl appearance as coach of the Illini. On November 10, the then-unranked Illini defeated #1-ranked Ohio State in Columbus, ending the Buckeyes' 28 game home winning streak. The Illini finished the 2007 regular season by defeating Northwestern to finish 9–3 overall, 6–2 in the Big 10. Because Big Ten champion Ohio State played in the BCS National Championship game, Illinois received a bid to play in the Rose Bowl as the second ranked team in the Big Ten. Their improvement of 7 wins over the 2006 season was the largest such increase of any Division I team. His success earned Zook a contract extension in October 2007, which paid him approximately $1.5 million through the 2013 season. Zook's success on recruiting trail continued as well, with Illinois having the #17 recruiting class in 2008 according to rivals.com.On November 20, 2007, Ron Zook was selected as the Big Ten Coach of the Year. Zook also was awarded the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award following the 2007 season.After making the 2008 Rose Bowl
2008 Rose Bowl
The 2008 Rose Bowl Game presented by Citi, the 94th Rose Bowl Game, played on January 1, 2008 at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California, was a college football bowl game. The contest was televised on ABC, the 20th straight year the network aired the Rose Bowl, starting at 4:30pm EST...
, Illinois was squashed, 49–17, by the USC Trojans
2007 USC Trojans football team
The 2007 University of Southern California Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California during the college football season of 2007–2008, winning a share of the Pacific-10 Conference Championship and winning the 2008 Rose Bowl...
, putting a bit of a damper on an otherwise great season.
2008 season
Expectations were high for 2008, but Illinois didn't live up to those expectations early on, as they lost to Missouri2008 Missouri Tigers football team
The 2008 Missouri Tigers football team represented the University of Missouri in college football's 2008 season. The team was coached by Gary Pinkel, who returned in his eighth season with Mizzou, and played their home games at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium.Quarterback Chase Daniel returned for...
, 52–42, in their season opener and to Penn State
2008 Penn State Nittany Lions football team
The 2008 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represents the Pennsylvania State University in the 2008 college football season. The team is coached by Joe Paterno and plays its home games in Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania.-Previous season:...
, 38–24. After a 27–20 loss to Minnesota
2008 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team
The 2008 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team was the second under head coach Tim Brewster. They began play on August 30, 2008 at home against Northern Illinois from the Mid-American Conference, and finished the regular season against Iowa, on November 22. It was the Golden Gophers' final...
, Illinois crushed Indiana
2008 Indiana Hoosiers football team
The 2008 Indiana Hoosiers football team represented the Indiana University during the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Hoosiers were coached by Bill Lynch and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Indiana.-Schedule:...
, 55–13. However, the Fighting Illini fell to Wisconsin
2008 Wisconsin Badgers football team
The 2008 Wisconsin Badgers football team represented the University of Wisconsin–Madison during the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Badgers were coached by Bret Bielema and played their home games at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin....
the very next week; Wisconsin had been winless in Big Ten play prior to that game. While Zook's team was able to upset Iowa
2008 Iowa Hawkeyes football team
The 2008 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the University of Iowa and the Iowa Hawkeyes football program in the 2008 college football season. Coached by Kirk Ferentz, the Hawkeyes played their seven home games in Kinnick Stadium.-Previous season:...
, 27–24, a week after their loss to Wisconsin, Illini finished 2008 with a three-game losing streak at the hands of Western Michigan
2008 Western Michigan Broncos football team
The 2008 Western Michigan Broncos football team represents Western Michigan University in the 2008 NCAA football season. The WMU football team is coached by Bill Cubit and play their homes game in Waldo Stadium in Kalamazoo, Michigan....
(23–17), Ohio State
2008 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
The 2008 Ohio State Buckeyes football team competed in football on behalf of the Ohio State University during the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Buckeyes were coached by Jim Tressel and played their home games in Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio...
(30–20), and Northwestern
2008 Northwestern Wildcats football team
The 2008 Northwestern Wildcats football team represented Northwestern University in the Big Ten during the 2008–2009 college football season. Pat Fitzgerald, in his third season at Northwestern, was the team's head coach...
(27–10).
2009 season
Despite a very disappointing 2008 season, Zook's 2009 Fighting Illini team received AP Poll votes. As they had the previous two years, Illinois started off the season with a loss to Missouri, but this time, the result was far more lopsided than the previous affairs; Missouri won 39–7. Illinois stomped Illinois State, 45–17, the next week, but then suffered an embarrassing 30–0 shutout at the hands of Ohio State. Illinois lost their next four games by 10 points or more (including a 27–14 loss to Indiana, which was the Hoosiers' only Big Ten win of the season), sinking to 1–6 overall. Zook's team then put together a stunning blowout of the Michigan Wolverines in Memorial Stadium, and followed it up with a 35–32 upset of Minnesota the very next week. After back-to-back wins, the Illini fell to the rival Northwestern Wildcats2009 Northwestern Wildcats football team
The 2009 Northwestern Wildcats football team represented Northwestern University in the Big Ten during the 2009–2010 college football season. Pat Fitzgerald, in his fourth season at Northwestern, was the team's head coach. The Wildcats home games were played at Ryan Field in Evanston, Illinois...
, 21–16. To close out the season, the Fighting Illini put up a fight against Cincinnati, who finished the year undefeated, but were unable to pull off the upset; and the Fighting Illini fell at home to Fresno State in a wild 53–52 game the very next week.
At the end of the 2009 season, offensive coordinator Mike Schultz was released from his contract, and co-defensive coordinators Dan Disch and Curt Mallory were demoted to position coaches. Illinois hired Paul Petrino as offensive coordinator, and Vic Koenning
Vic Koenning
-External links:*...
as defensive coordinator.
2010 season
After back-to-back disappointing years, the Illini had almost no pre-season expectations entering 2010. Juice Williams and Arrelious Benn were no longer on the team. However, running back Mikel LeshoureMikel Leshoure
Mikel Leshoure is an American football running back for the Detroit Lions.-Early years:Leshoure attended Centennial High School in Champaign, Illinois...
was, and he proved to be an invaluable asset on offense, where Illinois started freshman Nathan Scheelhaase
Nathan Scheelhaase
Nathan Scheelhaase is an American football quarterback at the University of Illinois. While playing at Rockhurst High School, he won the 2008 Missouri Gatorade Player of the Year.-High school career:...
at quarterback.
They started off 2010 by losing to Missouri for the fourth consecutive year; however, they were able to take a 13–3 lead on Missouri, one that almost wound up lasting the length of the game. After the early loss, Illinois defeated Southern Illinois, 35–3, and Northern Illinois
2010 Northern Illinois Huskies football team
The 2010 Northern Illinois Huskies football team represented Northern Illinois University in the college football season of 2010. They compete in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football during the football season. Northern Illinois competed...
, 28–22. While the Fighting Illini lost to Ohio State in their Big Ten opener, they were able to give the Buckeyes a scare, knocking out quarterback Terrelle Pryor
Terrelle Pryor
Terrelle Pryor is an American football quarterback for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. He was the starting quarterback for the Ohio State Buckeyes from 2008−2010...
and holding the Buckeye passing offense almost entirely in check. Illinois then traveled to State College to take on the Nittany Lions
2010 Penn State Nittany Lions football team
The 2010 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Joe Paterno and played its home games in Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. They were members of the Big Ten Conference...
, and Illinois had never won in Beaver Stadium prior to 2010. Illinois handed Penn State a stunning 33–13 loss on homecoming.
They went on to win the Texas Bowl in a blow-out against Baylor.
2011 season
As the 2011 season begun, the Illini were picked by most experts to finish near the bottom of the newly-formed Leaders Division. However, Illinois got off to one of their best starts in history by winning their first six games. After taking care of Arkansas State2011 Arkansas State Red Wolves football team
The 2011 Arkansas State Red Wolves football team represents Arkansas State University in the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Red Wolves will be led by first year head coach Hugh Freeze and will play their home games at ASU Stadium. They are members of the Sun Belt Conference.-Schedule:...
, 33–15, and blasting South Dakota State
2011 South Dakota State Jackrabbits football team
The 2011 South Dakota State Jackrabbits football team represented South Dakota State University in the 2011 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Jackrabbits were led by 15th year head coach John Stiegelmeier and played their home games at Coughlin–Alumni Stadium. They are a member of the...
, 56–3, the Fighting Illini won a trio of home games by a margin of a field goal over 22nd-ranked Arizona State
2011 Arizona State Sun Devils football team
The 2011 Sun Devils football team represents Arizona State University in the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team is coached by fifth year head coach Dennis Erickson and plays their home games in Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona.-Schedule:...
(17–14), Western Michigan
2011 Western Michigan Broncos football team
The 2011 Western Michigan Broncos football team represents Western Michigan University during the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Broncos, led by seventh-year head coach Bill Cubit, compete in the West Division of the Mid-American Conference and play their home games at Waldo...
(23–20), and Northwestern
2011 Northwestern Wildcats football team
The 2011 Northwestern Wildcats football team represents Northwestern University in the Big Ten during the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Pat Fitzgerald, in his sixth season at Northwestern, is the team's head coach. The Wildcats home games are played at Ryan Field in Evanston, Illinois...
(38–35) in a game where Illinois rallied from a 28-10 deficit in the second half. After defeating Indiana
2011 Indiana Hoosiers football team
The 2011 Indiana Hoosiers football team will compete in football on behalf of Indiana University during the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season and in the new Leaders Division of the Big Ten Conference...
, 41–20, in Illinois' first road game of the season, the Illini were 6–0 for the first time since 1951 and climbed to 15th in the Coaches' Poll and 16th in the AP Poll
AP Poll
The Associated Press College Poll refers to weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA teams in one of three Division I college sports: football, men's basketball and women's basketball. The rankings are compiled by polling sportswriters across the nation...
. However, the Illini lost, 17–7, to Ohio State
2011 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
The 2011 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represents The Ohio State University in the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Buckeyes are coached by Luke Fickell on an interim basis following the resignation of Jim Tressel as head coach...
and the season seemed headed towards a downward spiral as Illinois lost a pair of close road games at Purdue
2011 Purdue Boilermakers football team
The 2011 Purdue Boilermakers football team represents Purdue University in the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They play their home games at Ross–Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana and are members of the Big Ten Conference. It is Danny Hope's third season as head coach...
(21–14) and Penn State
2011 Penn State Nittany Lions football team
The 2011 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represent the Pennsylvania State University in the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Joe Paterno for the first nine games until he was fired in the wake of the Penn State sex abuse scandal, with defensive coordinator...
(10–7). Illinois returned home and lost to Michigan
2011 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 2011 Michigan Wolverines football team represents the University of Michigan during the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Wolverines play in the Legends Division of the Big Ten Conference and play their home games at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan, which hosted its first...
, 31–14. On the Tuesday before the Wisconsin game, Zook opened his weekly press conference by warning the reporters to ask questions about the upcoming game and not about his job status. When reporter Shannon Ryan of the Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
asked Zook if he had talked to his players about the rumors pertaining to his future, he promptly walked out of the press conference. The Illini went on to lose to Wisconsin
2011 Wisconsin Badgers football team
The 2011 Wisconsin Badgers football team will represent the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Badgers, led by sixth-year head coach Bret Bielema, are members of the Leaders Division of the Big Ten Conference and will play their home games at Camp...
, 28–17, and finished the regular season with a 27–7 loss to Minnesota
2011 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team
The 2011 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team represent the University of Minnesota for the 2011 college football season. The Golden Gophers are members of the Big Ten Conference and play their home games at TCF Bank Stadium...
. With the loss to the Golden Gophers, Illinois became the first team in NCAA Division I FBS history to start a season 6–0, and end it at 6–6. Zook was fired on November 27, 2011. His final record at Illinois was 34–50.
Head coaching record
* Zook left for Illinois after the regular season; defensive coordinator Charlie StrongCharlie Strong
Charlie R. Strong is an American college football coach and former player. Strong is a native of Arkansas and graduated from the University of Central Arkansas, where he played college football...
coached the Gators in the Peach Bowl
2004 Peach Bowl (December)
The 2004 December edition of the Peach Bowl featured the Miami Hurricanes and the Florida Gators.Miami took a 7-0 lead when it blocked a Florida field goal attempt, and Devin Hester returned the ball 78 yards for a touchdown. In the second quarter, Matt Leach kicked a 34-yard field goal to male it...
. Florida credits the regular season to Zook and the Peach Bowl to Strong.
See also
- Florida GatorsFlorida GatorsThe Florida Gators are the intercollegiate sports teams that represent the University of Florida located in Gainesville, Florida. The "Lady Gators" is an alternative nickname sometimes used by the Gators women's teams...
- History of the University of FloridaHistory of the University of FloridaThe history of the University of Florida is firmly tied to the history of public education in the state of Florida. The University of Florida, colloquially known as "Florida" or "UF," originated as several distinct institutions that were merged to create a single state-supported university by the...
- Illinois Fighting IlliniIllinois Fighting IlliniThe Fighting Illini are the intercollegiate athletic teams of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The University offers 10 men's and 11 women's varsity sports....
- List of Florida Gators head football coaches
- List of Miami University people
- Miami RedhawksMiami RedHawksMiami University, in Oxford, Ohio, features 18 different varsity level sports teams for men and women, all of which are known as the Miami RedHawks...