Zook, Illini AD agree on contract extension

CHAMPAIGN -- First he stacked up recruits. Then he started to stack up wins. Now it's time for Ron Zook to stack up more dollars in his savings account.

Zook and Illinois athletic director Ron Guenther have agreed to a contract extension that goes in front of the University of Illinois' board of trustees on Wednesday.

If approved, the end of Zook's deal will be pushed from 2009 to 2012 and his annual pay will spike from just more than $1 million to $1,305,000.

And as soon as the 5-2 Illini qualify for a bowl, which requires a mere 2-3 finish, Zook's yearly income goes up another $200,000.

Zook, who owns a 9-21 record in the middle of his third season at Illinois, also draws $450,000 per year from Florida through 2008 per his buyout deal there.

"Our football program has made considerable progress under his leadership," Guenther said in a statement, "and we look forward to working with Coach Zook and his staff to continue building the program."

Zook acted nonchalant Monday when asked about the raise after his team worked out for an hour in preparation for Saturday's nationally televised battle with Michigan.

"Obviously that's not something that I'm thinking about now," Zook said. "It makes you feel good. We feel like we've made progress, but, like I've said all along, we've still got a long way to go.

"We're excited to be here. This is a great place. And I think the great thing of it is, we've kind of just seen the tip of the iceberg of where the program can go."

Sophomore quarterback Juice Williams, Zook's bellwether recruit who committed to Illinois in May 2005, liked the news.

"It's just great knowing that the guys that actually drew you to the school are going to be there for the entire time that you're going to be there," Williams said. "It's just like knowing that your father's always going to be there at home for you."