Ron Zook
Loudonville | |
College: | Miami (OH) |
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Career history | |
As a coach: | |
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Career highlights and awards | |
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Head coaching record | |
Career: | NCAA: 57–65 (.467) |
Ronald Andrew Zook
Zook is a native of
Early life
Ronald Andrew Zook was born in
Coaching career
High school assistant
Zook started coaching football immediately upon graduating from college, beginning his career in 1976 as the defensive backs coach at Orrville High School in Orrville, Ohio under head coach Mo Tipton.
College assistant
In 1978, Zook began his college football coaching career when he became a graduate assistant at Murray State University. Through the 1980s, Zook held coaching positions with a number of college football teams, serving as a defensive coordinator at Cincinnati and Kansas and as a position coach at Tennessee, Virginia Tech, and Ohio State.
Beginning in
Florida defensive coordinator Bobby Pruett left to become the head coach at Marshall University in January 1995 and Zook was promoted to take his place, becoming Florida's defensive coordinator once again. However, the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers offered Zook the job of special teams coordinator just one month later and he accepted, leaving the college game for a time.[7] With Zook leaving, Bob Stoops was brought in to run Florida's defense.
NFL assistant
After leaving Florida, Zook served three seasons as
College head coach
University of Florida
In January 2002, Steve Spurrier resigned from Florida to explore head coaching opportunities in the NFL, eventually signing with the
Zook was head coach at Florida for three seasons. The Gators compiled records of 8–5 (
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
University of Illinois
In 2005, the University of Illinois hired Zook to replace
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.[14] Despite this, they finished the 2006 season 1–7 in the conference and 2–10 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 a close game to make it 26–12).
The 2006 recruiting class included
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. The Illini finished the 2007 regular season by defeating Northwestern to finish 9–3 overall, 6–2 in the Big Ten. 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 seven 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.[22] Zook's success on recruiting trail continued as well, with Illinois having the #17 recruiting class in 2008 according to rivals.com.[23]
On November 20, 2007, Ron Zook was selected as the Big Ten Coach of the Year.[24] Zook also was awarded the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award following the 2007 season.[25] After making the 2008 Rose Bowl, Illinois was squashed 49–17 by the USC Trojans, putting 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 Missouri, 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, the 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).
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 they suffered an embarrassing 30–0 shutout at the hands of Ohio State. Illinois lost their next four games by ten points or more (including a 27–14 loss to Indiana, 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 they followed it up with a 35–32 upset of Minnesota the next week. After back-to-back wins, the Illini fell to the rival Northwestern Wildcats, 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 they fell at home to Fresno State in a wild 53–52 game in the season finale.
At the end of the 2009 season, offensive coordinator Mike Schultz was released from his contract,[26] and co-defensive coordinators Dan Disch and Curt Mallory were demoted to position coaches.[27] Illinois hired Paul Petrino as offensive coordinator, and Vic Koenning 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 Leshoure was, and he proved to be an invaluable asset on offense, while Illinois started freshman Nathan Scheelhaase at quarterback.
They started off 2010 by losing to Missouri for the fourth consecutive year, 23–13. They held a 13–3 lead that almost lasted 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 gave 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 blowout 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
Back to the NFL
After leaving Illinois, Zook spent two seasons out of football, during which time he worked as a college football studio analyst for CBS and took an executive position at a bank in Ocala, Florida.[28]
In 2014, Zook was hired by the Green Bay Packers to the position of assistant special teams coordinator.[29] He was not retained by the team after the 2018 season.[30]
Alliance of American Football
On February 28, 2019, Zook joined the Salt Lake Stallions of the Alliance of American Football as special teams coordinator and secondary coach. The league folded during the 2019 season.
Maryland
In August 2019, Maryland head coach Mike Locksley hired Zook as a senior analyst; Locksley had worked under Zook at Illinois as his offensive coordinator and at Florida as running backs coach and recruiting coordinator.[31]
XFL
In June 2021, Zook was announced as the defensive coordinator under
Head coaching record
Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | Coaches# | AP° | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Florida Gators (Southeastern Conference) (2002–2004) | |||||||||
2002 | Florida | 8–5 | 6–2 | 2nd (Eastern) | L Outback | 24 | |||
2003 | Florida | 8–5 | 6–2 | T–1st (Eastern) | L Outback | 25 | 24 | ||
2004 | Florida | 7–4[n 1] | 4–4 | 3rd (Eastern) | Peach[n 1] | 25 | |||
Florida: | 23–14 | 16–8 | |||||||
Illinois Fighting Illini (Big Ten Conference) (2005–2011) | |||||||||
2005 | Illinois | 2–9 | 0–8 | 11th | |||||
2006 | Illinois | 2–10 | 1–7 | 10th | |||||
2007 | Illinois | 9–4 | 6–2 | 2nd | L Rose† | 18 | 20 | ||
2008 | Illinois | 5–7 | 3–5 | 8th | |||||
2009 | Illinois | 3–9 | 2–6 | 9th | |||||
2010 | Illinois | 7–6 | 4–4 | T–4th | W Texas | ||||
2011 | Illinois | 6–6[n 2] | 2–6 | 5th (Leaders) | Fight Hunger[n 2] | ||||
Illinois: | 34–51 | 18–38 | |||||||
Total: | 57–65 | ||||||||
National championship Conference title Conference division title or championship game berth | |||||||||
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Notes
- ^ a b Zook left for Illinois after the regular season; defensive coordinator Charlie Strong coached Florida in the Peach Bowl. Florida credits the regular season to Zook and the Peach Bowl to Strong.
- ^ a b Zook was fired at the end of the regular season; defensive coordinator Vic Koenning was appointed as interim head coach and coached Illinois in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl. Illinois credits the regular season to Zook and the Fight Hunger Bowl to Koenning.
See also
References
- ^ "Jacquelyn Paige Zook". Amarillo Globe-News. April 16, 2011. Retrieved December 26, 2014.
- ^ "Former Florida coach Ron Zook to join CBS Sports Network as college analyst". Tampa Bay Times.
- ^ "Signs point to Ron Zook as new Packers special teams coach". February 5, 2015.
- ^ Dooley, Pat (January 20, 2002). "Zook Suits Gators Just Perfect". Lakeland Ledger. Archived from the original on February 9, 2002.
- ^ "Gainesville Sun – Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
- ^ "Sarasota Herald-Tribune – Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
- ^ "Times Daily – Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
- ^ "1999 Kansas City Chiefs Statistics & Players - Pro-Football-Reference.com". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
- ^ "Gainesville Sun – Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
- ^ "2000 New Orleans Saints Statistics & Players - Pro-Football-Reference.com". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
- ^ "Gators Fire Zook, Keep Spurrier in Mind (washingtonpost.com)". www.washingtonpost.com.
- ^ "USATODAY.com – Colleagues, players stick up for Florida's Zook". usatoday30.usatoday.com.
- ^ ESPN News Services, "With Zook out, will Spurrier get a call?" ESPN.com (October 26, 2004). Retrieved September 8, 2009.
- ^ "2006 Football Team Rankings". Scout.
- ^ "OrangeandBlueNews.com". illinois.rivals.com.
- ^ "OrangeandBlueNews.com". illinois.rivals.com.
- ^ "NFL, College Sports, NBA and Recruiting". scout.scout.com.
- ^ "High School Confidential". Archived from the original on November 6, 2007.
- ^ "OrangeandBlueNews.com". illinois.rivals.com.
- ^ "NFL, College Sports, NBA and Recruiting". scout.scout.com.
- ^ "OrangeandBlueNews.com". illinois.rivals.com.
- ^ "Illinois' strong start earns Ron Zook extension, raise - USATODAY.com". www.usatoday.com.
- ^ "Rivals.com". rivals100.rivals.com.
- ^ "Chicago Sports News, Schedules & Scores – Chicago Tribune". Chicago Tribune. January 22, 2024.
- ^ "Coach of the Year". www.coachoftheyear.com.
- ^ "Illinois hiring Paul Petrino as offensive coordinator".
- ^ "Koenning named Illinois defensive coordinator - Chicago Breaking Sports". Archived from the original on August 7, 2011. Retrieved April 13, 2011.
- ^ "Former Illinois coach Zook delves into TV, banking". July 16, 2013.
- ^ "Ex-college coach Zook joins Packers' staff". February 7, 2014.
- ^ Jones, Brian (February 28, 2019). "Ron Zook joins Salt Lake Stallions coaching staff". 247Sports. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
- ^ Markus, Don (August 7, 2019). "Mike Locksley hires former boss Ron Zook to be senior analyst for Maryland football". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
- ^ "XFL Announces Key Football Hires and Coaching Staff for its Eight Teams". www.xfl.com. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
- ^ Alexander, Mookie (December 31, 2023). "Report: RIP, Seattle Sea Dragons?!". Field Gulls. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
Bibliography
- 2012 Florida Football Media Guide, University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida (2012).
- Carlson Norm, University of Florida Football Vault: The History of the Florida Gators, Whitman Publishing, LLC, Atlanta, Georgia (2007). ISBN 0-7948-2298-3.