Dec. 7, 2004

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"I appreciate the opportunity to be here. I can't begin to tell you what an honor it is to be named the head coach at a prestigious university like the University of Illinois.

I would like to begin by thanking the people that have made this possible: Chancellor Herman, Coach Guenther. It's amazing how many conversations we've had, and the shortest one was probably 40 minutes. Just talking to him (Guenther), I felt good about it and knew it was going to be a great fit.

I would also like to thank the Illinois family who has entrusted us with the Illinois football program. I would also like to thank the people in my life who have continued to make this possible: my wife Denise, who says we don't paint, we move, my daughter, Jacqueline, who came up from Vanderbilt and my youngest daughter, Casey, who is back home at big soccer game. They have sacrificed so much these many years so we can pursue these dreams together.

The same goes for the family, the coaches, and the players I've been associated with for close to 30 years. It takes a lot of hard work from a lot of good people to make dreams come true.

I want to emphasize that coaching at the University of Illinois is an honor; it really is. It would be for any coach. We were fortunate enough in recent days to have some choices to make but as soon as I began conversations with Coach Guenther, as I learned more about the university and the opportunities the job presented, it was a very easy decision.

Without a shadow of a doubt, the situation, the administrators, and the heritage of this university are among the reasons that this is such a great opportunity for us. One of the best reasons, I believe this, are the Illinois fans. All you have to do is watch the top-ranked basketball team in the entire nation play a home game. I was fortunate enough to watch the basketball game last week on television. The excitement and the passion are there. We want to elevate our program just like the other programs that have been here. That is what the people of the University of Illinois deserve.

It's the job of myself and our coaches to build this football program to similar heights. It may take time, but that's our goal: to build it the right way, with hard work and integrity. We want to be the absolute best the university can be.

I was raised in the Midwest. I've coached in the Big Ten. I have great admiration and respect for this league. It's one of the finest athletic conferences in the entire land. I think everyone knows that. I also believe that this is a great university and there is no reason whatsoever, that Illinois, in time, cannot compete on a regular basis for the highest of goals, Big Ten Championships and beyond.

You have my word that we will work tirelessly to bring the absolute best student athletes, young men who will represent this university the right way. We will work as hard as possible to have them ready to compete in this league and when their playing days are over, to be outstanding productive citizens of our society.

I've learned so much from my father, who has passed away. The one thing he always said was, 'If you don't have time to do right, when will you have time to do it over?' I assure you that we are going to build this program the right way.

Once again, I want to thank everyone for this opportunity. It's time to get to work and make the Illinois football program something all the Illinois fans can take great pride in. Thank you. I appreciate it."