Oct. 17, 2007

The Executive Committee of the University of Illinois Board of Trustees today approved a three-year contract extension for head football coach Ron Zook. Currently in his third season at Illinois, Zook is now under contract through the 2012 season. Zook has engineered one of the nation's biggest turnarounds on the football field this season, leading the Illini to a 5-2 record heading into Saturday's game against Michigan.

"I am pleased the Board approved my recommendation for a contract extension for coach Ron Zook," Director of Athletics Ron Guenther said. "Our football program has made considerable progress under his leadership, and we look forward to working with Coach Zook and his staff to continue building the program."

"The thing for us and our staff is that it makes you feel good when your bosses and the administration feel like you're making the program go in the right direction," Zook said. "I think everyone understands that we're not were we need to be yet and we still have a long way to go, but at least they feel comfortable that we are going in the right direction."