Ron Zook (Coach)
Bio
Ron Zook served as head coach at Illinois for seven seasons
from 2005-11. Known as a tireless worker and recruiter, Zook
led Illinois to the biggest turnaround in college football in
2007 and to a Texas Bowl victory in 2010 and to the Kraft Fight
Hunger Bowl in 2011.
In Zook’s seven years at the helm, the Illini offense led the
conference in rushing three times (2006, 2007, 2010) and
passing in 2008. Additionally, the rushing offense finished in
the NCAA top-20 four times during his tenure and the defense
finished inside the NCAA top-10 in his final year in 2011. Zook
produced three first-round NFL draft picks between 2008 and
2011—RB Rashard Mendenhall in 2008, DB Vontae Davis in
2009 and DT Corey Liuget in 2011.
In 2011, Zook led Illinois to a 6-0 start, the program’s best
start in 60 years, and a berth in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl.
Though Zook did not coach the bowl game, the Illini went on
to defeat UCLA, 20-14, giving Illinois bowl wins in back-toback
years for the first time in school history. The 2011 team
was a defensive juggernaut, ranking ranking in the top-10
nationally in pass defense (third), tackles-for-loss (fourth),
sacks (sixth) and total defense (seventh). Defensive end
Whitney Mercilus led the way, earning consensus first-team
All-America honors after leading the nation in sacks (16.0)
and forced fumbles (9).
In 2010, Zook led the Illini to a 7-6 record after a 38-14 victory
over Baylor in the Texas Bowl, Illinois’ first bowl win since
1999. Running back Mikel Leshoure rewrote the Illini record
book in 2010, breaking the single-season rushing record with
1,697 yards, single-game rushing yards (330 vs. Northwestern
on Nov. 20), total touchdowns (20), rushing touchdowns (17)
and 100-yard rushing games (9). Illinois led the Big Ten in
rushing for the third time in the last five seasons, ranked 11th
in the country in rushing and broke school records for total
points scored (423) and points per game (32.54). The defense
also ranked second in the Big Ten in tackles for loss and sacks
while improving 53 places in the national rankings for total
defense from 91st in 2009 to 38th in 2010.
In 2009, Illinois quarterback Juice Williams set numerous
milestone records, including career total offense where he
surpassed the 10,000-yard mark, becoming only the sixth
player in Big Ten history to do so. The Illini finished second in
the league and 17th in the nation in rushing.
During the 2008 season, the Illini offense continued to rank
among the top in the conference. After leading the Big Ten in
rushing for two seasons, the squad posted the league’s best
passing numbers in 2008. Not only did the team lead the Big
Ten in passing, but Williams was the leader in passing and
total offense. On the flipside, defensively, the squad led the
Big Ten in quarterback sacks and tackles for loss and middle
linebacker Brit Miller was tops in tackles.
In 2007, Zook led the Illini back to the national scene with a
nine-win season (the eighth in school history), a second-place
finish in the Big Ten and a trip to the Rose Bowl. The seven-
win turnaround from the 2006 season also is the best ever
in the Illinois record books, earning him numerous national
Coach of the Year finalist honors and the title of Liberty
Mutual 2007 National Coach of the Year.
For the second-straight season, Illinois led the conference in
rushing, posting the school’s first-ever 3,000-yard rushing
season. The offense topped the 5,000-yard total offense mark
for the third time in the Illinois record books. Defensively, the
Illini forced the most turnovers in Zook’s tenure and allowed
the fewest points, holding opponents to under 20 points per
game.
In 2006, Illinois’ 188.8 yards per game rushing ranked No.
1 in the Big Ten and defensively, the team shaved over 100
rushing yards per game off its 2005 totals. It was the school’s
best rushing performance since 1973. For the second-straight
year, Zook signed a nationally ranked recruiting class, one
that landed among the top-15, arguably the highest-rated in
school history.
Family - Wife, Denise; Daughters, Jacquelyn and Casey
Honors and Awards - National Coach of the Year (Liberty Mutual), 2007 Big Ten Coach of the Year, 2007
Bowl Games -
2010 Texas Bowl
2008 Rose Bowl
2004 Outback Bowl
2003 Outback Bowl
1996 Fiesta Bowl
1995 Sugar Bowl
1994 Sugar Bowl
1992 Gator Bowl
1992 Sugar Bowl
1990 Hall of Fame Bowl
1990 Liberty Bowl
1986 Liberty Bowl
1986 Sugar Bowl
1984 Sun Bowl
1975 Tangerine Bowl*
1974 Tangerine Bowl*
1973 Tangerine Bowl*
*as a player