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The Illini decided recently to keep Ron Zook at the helm and bring in new coordinators and some other position coaches. The first coordinator hire is done with Paul Petrino coming on board as the Offensive Coordinator. He fits the criteria I was looking for: some experience with the NFL, some recruiting chops, and a general idea of how to work a tight end into the offense. Paul was a WR coach with the Falcons. Mark Tupper says, "Petrino has been a good recruiter with experience in Florida." His Arkansas team is graduating perhaps the best receiving TE in the class in D.J. Williams. I look forward to seeing if he can get the ball to Hubie Graham and London Davis a little better than Schulz' offense did for Michael Hoomanawanui in his injury-marred but still disappointing senior year.

I'll add that I'm not a fan of the idea of hiring a Special Teams coach. Our special teams have been terrible for years and I think we might be better off using that coaching spot elsewhere and letting the two coordinators figure out their own responsibilities and personnel assignments for special teams.

Updated: The word on the street (or at least on WDWS and the Topeka Capital-Journal is that Kansas State's Vic Koenning will be hired as the defensive coordinator. If true, that's exciting news. Kansas State had some very good special teams last year without a designated ST coach, by the way.

Labels: illini football