Zook finishes Illini hiring, adds QB and TE coaches

CHAMPAIGN - University of Illinois head football coach Ron Zook announced the hiring of Jeff Brohm and Greg Nord to complete the offensive side of the 2010 coaching staff.

Brohm will coach the quarterbacks and Nord will handle tight ends. Both coaches worked with new offensive coordinator Paul Petrino at Louisville.

"I am very excited about these hires," Zook said. "Both Jeff and Greg are considered two of the best in the business for what they do. They are proven and have worked in this system with Paul (Petrino). Their comfort level with the offense gives me great confidence as we move forward with improving this football team. They both are great family men who I know will be great for this community."

"I am looking forward to reuniting with Coach Petrino and working with him and Coach Zook to put the best product on the field," Brohm said.

Added Nord: "The fans' support is tremendous and there is great talent in the locker room. Coach Petrino's offense is extremely solid, fundamentally sound, exciting and fast-paced."

Here are are extensive biographies on both coaching additions.

JEFF BROHM: He spent the 2009 season as the quarterbacks coach at Florida Atlantic University, where he was reunited with his college coach, Howard Schnellenberger. In one season with the Owls, the squad averaged 27.4 points per game, 279.7 yards passing per contest and 432.1 yards of total offense per game.

Brohm, served as the quarterbacks coach at Louisville from 2004-06, assistant head coach and passing game coordinator in 2007, and the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator in 2008. Under Brohm's direction, the Cardinals' passing attack flourished, including a record-breaking season in 2007 with Brohm's brother, Brian, as quarterback. Brian Brohm threw for 4,024 yards including 30 touchdowns, on his way to repeating second team All-Big East accolades. Brian finished second in the nation in passing efficiency and completed 68.8 percent of his throws in 2006.

In his first season as an assistant coach at Louisville, Jeff Brohm guided quarterback Stefan LeFors to a No. 1 national ranking in passing efficiency and completion percentage, and watched as the southpaw narrowly missed setting NCAA records in both categories.

Brohm started his NFL career in 1994 with the San Diego Chargers, who played in Super Bowl XXIX. He played for the San Francisco 49ers from 1995-97, where he was the backup quarterback to Hall of Famer Steve Young in 1997.

From 1998-2000, Brohm played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Denver Broncos, and the Cleveland Browns. In 2001, he played in the XFL for the Orlando Rage and was named first team All-XFL as he owned the league's highest QB rating at 99.9.

Brohm was one of four family members to earn a gridiron letter from Louisville. He wrapped up his four-year collegiate career as one of the most prolific offensive players to wear Louisville's jersey. As a three-year starter for the Cards, Brohm ranks among the all-time leaders for passing yards, touchdown passes, completions, total offense and completion percentage. He was voted the team's MVP in both 1992 and 1993, and always will be remembered for a gritty performance in leading Louisville to an 18-7 victory over Michigan State in the 1993 Liberty Bowl, one of Schnellenberger's six career bowl victories.

Playing with two steel pins and one steel plate in the index finger of his throwing hand, Brohm completed 19-of-29 passes for 197 yards and a touchdown, all while playing in 20-degree temperatures and freezing rain to earn the game's MVP award.

As a student-athlete at Louisville, Brohm played two seasons of baseball with the Cleveland Indians' organization while playing football for the Cards.

Brohm also was named the Kentucky High School Player of the Decade for the 1980s before attending Louisville, where his number was honored in 2006 for his contributions as a Cardinal quarterback.

The Louisville native received a degree in business administration in 1994. He and his wife, Jennifer, have a five-year-old son, Brady.

GREG NORD: He just completed his 15th season as a member of the Louisville staff. For the past three seasons, Nord coached the running backs and ran the Cardinals' recruiting efforts.

Prior to 2007, Nord spent the previous four years as the assistant head coach and tutored the running backs and tight ends.

Nord has enjoyed tremendous success guiding the Cardinals' skill positions. In 2006, Nord coached Kolby Smith, the team's leading rusher with 862 yards and freshman Anthony Allen, who led the team with 13 touchdowns. In 2005, Michael Bush led the country in scoring and was a first-team All-BIG EAST performer. Bush was a fourth-round selection by the Oakland Raiders and Smith was drafted in the fifth round by the Kansas City Chiefs.

In 2004, Nord helped lead the Cardinal rushing attack to a school-record 3,005 yards, and a school record-tying 20 rushing touchdowns by Eric Shelton. With Nord at the helm of the running backs, the Cardinals set a school mark for rushing touchdowns with 47.

In his first three seasons as tight ends coach, Nord watched Ibn Green become a two-time All-America's choice while etching his name in the NCAA record books as the NCAA Division I-A all-time leader in receptions by a tight end. Green completed his U of L career as the program's No. 2 all-time receiver with 217 catches.

Nord also tutored two NFL tight ends in 2003 in Ronnie Ghent and Richard Owens. Ghent became the first Conference USA player at any position to earn first-team all-conference honors for all four years.

As Louisville's mentor of running backs in 1997, Nord saw his unit improve drastically as the season wore on. Nord watched as sophomore Frank Moreau scored an NCAA record four touchdowns in a quarter versus East Carolina.

Before joining the Cardinal staff, Nord spent three years as running backs coach at Georgia Tech (1992-94). During that time, he coached two All-Atlantic Coast Conference selections in Dorsey Levens and William Bell. Nord took the Georgia Tech position after spending two seasons (1990-91) at East Carolina.

Nord began his coaching career at Kentucky as a graduate assistant from 1979-80. In 1981, he moved into a part-time capacity with the Wildcats before being rewarded with a full-time position as running backs coach in 1982. While coaching the UK running backs, Nord worked with several of the program's top career rushers.

A graduate of the University of Kentucky, Nord lettered three seasons for the Wildcats, playing center and tight end.

He is married to the former Donna Wilbert. They have two married daughters, Amy and Angie, and three grandsons.