Illinois expected to tab Petrino as OC

[yaya551]

http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/...-petrino-as-oc

Ron Zook didn't waste much time in finding one of Illinois' new coordinators.

Illinois is expected to name Arkansas offensive coordinator Paul Petrino to the same position early this week, sources tell ESPN Scouts Inc.'s JC Shurburtt and The (Champaign) News-Gazette. Petrino, the brother of Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino, will replace Mike Schultz, one of four Illinois assistants fired Friday following a 3-9 season.

Zook also might find a defensive coordinator after demoting Dan Disch and Curt Mallory. Former Kansas defensive coordinator Bill Miller, who served under Zook at Florida, is a possibility.

An Illinois official couldn't confirm Petrino's hiring Sunday night.

Petrino, who was in the mix for Western Kentucky's head-coaching vacancy, guided a Razorbacks offense that leads the SEC and ranks eighth nationally in scoring (37.3 ppg). Arkansas ranks 10th nationally in passing and 14th in total offense, and quarterback Ryan Mallett, a transfer from Michigan, has developed into a superstar under the Petrino brothers.

[splitter]

I'm thrilled with Petrino... as long as Zook keeps his hands out.

I'm still baffled we hired the guy who orchestrated TCU's run attack for the last decade and his offense was horrible for the first half of the season. How does that even happen?

[Hoosierfan]

Why would he leave Arkansas to come to Illinois?

[MojaveGator]

I'm thrilled with Petrino... as long as Zook keeps his hands out.

That's a lot to wish for. Zook hasn't let an assistant do his job yet. He has certainly mastered the art of making them the fall guys for his own mistakes, though.

I'm still baffled we hired the guy who orchestrated TCU's run attack for the last decade and his offense was horrible for the first half of the season. How does that even happen?

See above.

When Zook came to Florida, the school had already hired Ed Zaunbrecher from Marshall as offensive coordinator. Zook castrated the offense, then demoted Zaunbrecher and brought in Larry Fedora to replace him. Even after Zaunbrecher told the press that he was just following the head coach's orders, Zook had the gall to say that hiring a new OC would make the team better. It didn't.

Why would he leave Arkansas to come to Illinois?

The only reason I can think of - given the high probability that the entire staff will be unemployed at the end of 2010 - is that he may see this as a ticket to being a head coach. If Zook is canned during the season, Petrino may get the opportunity to take over and maybe salvage something of the season (since it is abundantly clear that Illinois' main problem is the head coach).

[splitter]

Money - apparently Illinois is paying their OC more than any school in the SEC.

[yaya551]

http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/...koenning-as-dc

After a wild night of rumors and negotiations, Illinois got the man it wanted to run its defense.

Illinois officially named Vic Koenning its new defensive coordinator at a news conference today in Champaign. Koenning, who previously served as Kansas State's co-defensive coordinator, replaces Dan Disch and Curt Mallory, who were demoted to position coaches.

"I’m ready to jump in there with coach [Ron] Zook, start to watch some recruiting tape, start to watch some games and get going," Koenning said Friday. "I couldn’t be more excited to be here. In so many things in life, timing is everything, and the timing has worked out fantastic."