Petrino introduced

Listen to Paul Petrino's introductory press conference here.

CHAMPAIGN – If Paul Petrino fixes the Illinois offense in 2010, a 12-year-old from Fayetteville is going to deserve some of the credit,

When Petrino first heard about Illinois' interest in him, he put his son Mason to work on research.

"He probably helped me as much as anything," Petrino said. "He got on the computer and pulled up all the facilities. We sat there and looked at everything. We went through the weight room presentation. It's kind of like probably what recruits look at."

Mason Petrino liked what he saw.

"He's fired up," Paul Petrino said. "By the time he gets here, he'll know every player's name and what they do.

"I said, 'What do you think?' He said, 'I like the size of their O-line, dad.' "

Petrino was introduced Monday as the Illinois offensive coordinator. He becomes the school's third offensive coordinator in three seasons, following Mike Locksley and Mike Schultz.

Illinois coach Ron Zook and Petrino didn't talk for the first time until Friday night. The deal was done by Sunday.

Petrino will be paid $475,000 annually for two years.

But money wasn't the only reason Petrino left the security of Arkansas, where he served on the staff of his brother, Bobby.

"Down there, we did everything together so much with me and my brother," Petrino said. "It was still always perceived as his offense. Now, I feel like I'm not underneath him, so obviously it's not his offense. I guess that's the best way to put it."

Petrino hopes to someday be a head coach. The move to Illinois helps him with that goal.

"I see it as a way to go out and get on my own two feet and show everybody what I can do," Petrino said.

Petrino said it was hard to leave Arkansas. His brother tried to convince him to stay. They won't be together on Saturdays in the fall for the first time in years.

"He didn't want me to go," Petrino said. "It was something we had to talk through and work through. I don't know if there's ever a perfect time to leave anywhere. I'm not sure he thought I ever necessarily would (leave) unless it was for a head job. You've got to go. You don't look back, you look forward."

Paul Petrino will be checking the SEC scoreboard during the 2010 season.

"I'll always be pulling for them," Petrino said. "I care a lot about all their players. They're going to be real good next year."

Petrino begins working immediately for the Illini. He has recruited northern Florida in the past and could be sent back to the region.

"As soon as Coach Zook tells me where to go, I'll get recruiting," Petrino said.

Petrino also wants to meet the returning players. Several stopped by the football offices on Monday, including Arrelious Benn and Mikel Leshoure.

Benn is contemplating an early move to the NFL. Petrino talked to Benn about the offense he plans to use at Illinois.

"He's a great kid and I'd love to get to coach him," Petrino said.

"I tried to sell everything I could. I tried to sell, 'We're going to get you the football. You need to see where you're at. If it's not there, then you need to come back and lead the country in catches.' I showed him a list of all the receivers I've coached and what their stats were and how many catches they had and how many yards they had. I did everything in my power to sell to him."

Petrino spent part of Monday morning looking at tape of the returning Illini.

"I'm sorry I don't have all the names down yet, but No. 5 (Leshoure) can really play," Petrino said.

Paul Petrino coached an offense that ranked eighth in the country in scoring and 10th in passing. He inherits a program that was 82nd and 89th in those two categories.

Petrino's offense follows a motto: F.T.S. (Feed The Studs).

"We're going to get our best players in the position to go make plays," Petrino said.

Petrino has coached one game at Memorial Stadium. And won in a blowout. He was part of the Louisville staff that beat Illinois 35-9 in 1998.

"Chris Redman had a great day that day," Petrino said.

The next year, Ron Turner's team won 41-36 at Louisville.

"That day didn't go well for Louisville," Petrino said. "That went good for Illinois."

What it means

Illinois hired Paul Petrino as offensive coordinator Monday. There's more to know:

— It costs Illinois more to hire a coordinator these days ($475,000 annually in a two-year deal). He will be making more than the offensive coordinator at Michigan (Calvin Magee $284,000), Michigan State (Don Treadwell $229,500), Minnesota (Jed Fisch $200,000), Ohio State (Jim Bollman $302,000) and Wisconsin (Paul Chryst $361,000). But he won't be making as much as Mike Locksley in his final season at Illinois ($500,000).

— The ball's going in the air. A lot. Check out the statistics and you'll see that Arkansas liked to pass. Having Ryan Mallett on hand helped.

— Ron Zook's program made a positive statement. He didn't hire a retread, as many expected. Instead, he landed a rising assistant who will be a future head coach. And he hired a guy who was working for his brother. Christmas is going to be a bit different at the Petrino house.

— Petrino goes to work immediately for Illinois and won't work the Liberty Bowl game with Arkansas. The Razorbacks play East Carolina on Jan. 2 in Memphis.

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