Tate: Guenther in it for the long haul

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By Loren Tate

Sunday, December 20, 2009 5:05 PM CDT

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CHAMPAIGN – If Ron Guenther is the mastermind behind the UI's football staff shakeup, what does this say about his future?

Surely, if the athletic director is investing in Ron Zook and all these multiyear contracts, he must be serious about extending his own stay beyond next December as well.

"That's something we will have to address in the early spring," said the 64-year-old Guenther, indicating that his own status will be clarified in April or May. He would prefer to know who his new boss is, but a permanent president and/or chancellor won't be named that soon, so he'll be obliged to work it out with "interims" Stanley Ikenberry and Bob Easter, both of whom he has long-standing relationships. It is presumed that the new Board of Trustees will accept administrative recommendations.

"It's like Groundhog Day," Guenther said. "I go all the way back to 1990 with President Ikenberry, and the poultry move (making room for sports facilities east of the Atkins Tennis Center) was done with Bob Easter."

Guenther caught Illini Nation by surprise with the latest move that called for the ouster of four assistant coaches, a deep and unprecedented dip into the budget for two touted coordinators, and a staff shakeup that is not yet complete. Despite his pronounced support of Zook in October, many of us had been led to believe that the loss of games, fans, squad members and recruits would require a new head coach.

"We can't turn the shovel that way every five years," Guenther explained. "Just as happened with Ron Turner, we had some success (in 2007) and then we couldn't sustain it. Things clearly weren't going the way we anticipated the last two years, so we tried to dissect what went wrong. We re-evaluated everything from the loss of Mike Locksley to the talent on hand."

'The fastest way back'

"I don't expect everyone to understand," Guenther went on. "The easy thing, from the fans standpoint, was to start over for the third time. My conclusion was this: There is risk in anything we do, and certainly if we make a total overhaul.

"All the head coaches I considered have flaws. I felt there were other issues and, if Ron Zook was willing to consider a new approach, that would be the fastest way back. He knows and understands the culture of Illinois – the administration, philosophy, compliance and academics – and he could be effective if surrounded by stronger people. We could tweak it rather than start from scratch ... even if that wasn't the most popular thing. As athletic director, you have to make decisions on what you see and feel. Am I always right? No. But my role is to provide support and challenge people to do their best.

"The hardest thing is to look at your own weaknesses. We all have blind spots. But Ron Zook was willing to modify his approach and keep on track, and we were able to attract the best coordinators available (Paul Petrino from Arkansas and Vic Koenning from Kansas State). It has been a good transition.

"Ron Zook needs to be the CEO who solves problems and serves as the heartbeat of the program, and let his coaches coach. He is an energetic worker and an effective recruiter. When you look at it, this was like basketball where we had to make some subtle changes two years ago, and Bruce Weber embarked on a new recruiting strategy. In Zook and Weber, we have the hardest-working head coaches in the business."

While Illini Nation had questions along the way, Zook knew since October that he was safe because he was part of the master plan. Many of us were fooled because game outcomes and player upheaval seemed to be a repudiation of his program. Unrest reached abnormal levels. But, then, it's true that all fan bases want their coach fired when the team loses – even Joe Paterno was in trouble when Penn State went 7-16 in 2004-05 – and Iowa's Kirk Ferentz is just the latest example of a coach climbing from the outhouse to the penthouse.

'We'll go forward'

"The decision at Illinois was not based on 'to spend or not to spend,' it was based on whether this was fixable," Guenther said. "It is a financial challenge at a time when all of public education is being challenged. Sometimes you have to fly into the fact of controversy. I feel good about what was done. The strongest staffs are made up of people who'll be head coaches, and that's what we have."

Two big questions remain: (1) Will the fans buy it and (2) is the talent sufficient to turn it around?

"We have to win back the confidence of the fans," Guenther said. "We have a loyal base (of season-ticket holders) and others who jump in and out. We need to show that this is getting fixed, and it will begin with the completion of the recruiting phase and what happens in spring practice."

Looming, for the final time, are Missouri's Tigers in early September. For a fragile UI squad and a shaky fan base, opening setbacks in St. Louis have struck deep into the Illini psyche.

"We got off to a terrible start this past season, and we lost confidence," Guenther said. "It was a very difficult (3-9) season. Now we've made some critical changes and we'll go forward. This transition could not have been more smooth."

With all these two-year contracts, this is more than a 2010 stopgap. Barring total disaster on the field – yes, like this past season – this is a make-or-break, multiyear approach, and it looks like Guenther will be digging in with them.

Loren Tate writes for The News-Gazette. He can be reached at ltate@news-gazette.com.

Comments

the problem is that the Illini are still stuck with Zook making all the key decisions, such as the penalty choices at Iowa in 2007 that cost Illinois a Big Ten title, the 4th down decisions against Minnesota in 2008 that held the Illini one win short of a bowl, and the time management mistakes to end halves against Cincinnati, Minnesota, Northwestern, Ohio State, and Michigan State in this season.

Posted by MyTurn2Raze on December 20, 2009 at 5:52 PM | Suggest Removal

No RG, the ILLINI FOOTBALL PROGRAM is like Groundhog Day.

Posted by pheonixrising on December 20, 2009 at 6:07 PM | Suggest Removal

RG lost fans when he said..." I don't listen to fans or the boards." So what if we start over, it's not gonna be any worse than next year and besides we'll be a year closer to a winning season. Suggest head in the sand RG get a copy of the book...The Emperor's New Clothes for reference.

Posted by cretis12 on December 20, 2009 at 6:18 PM | Suggest Removal

"Ron Zook needs to be the CEO who solves problems." Zook as a CEO? This is laughable.

Posted by rocko on December 20, 2009 at 8:45 PM | Suggest Removal

All the hoopla over some new coordinators. So what if there is another 3-9 season, then what? Nope, RG I'm not buying your new plan and won't be renewing season tickets. No way would I sit through another frustrating season like the last two.

Posted by jimbo2009 on December 20, 2009 at 9:29 PM | Suggest Removal

I don't get all the negativity. This is exactly what a lot of folks were asking for from the first time we all scratched out heads watching Zook make in-game decisions: We want Ron Zook recruiting and selling the program, and we want actual coaches teaching the game and positions, setting up the schemes and game planning. Guenther might as well have come right out and said it: Ron Zook is a great recruiter, and not a great coach. Now we've split those duties.

The last critical question is: Who is making the in-game decisions? We've heard lots of folks ask for someone to be hired to do that. I say, let the Coordinators take the reins depending on which side of the ball we're on. 4th-and-1? Petrino makes the call. Go for the blocked punt vs. the return? Koenning decides. Zook will only need to get in their faces if they repeat bad choices. Otherwise, Zook can wander the sidelines inspiring players, which at least the players say he's good at.

Posted by ptevonian on December 20, 2009 at 11:50 PM | Suggest Removal

Loren making nicey nice to the big guy in Champaign once again. Keep drinking the Koolaid Champaign journalists. This is the worst news ever.

Posted by oandb on December 21, 2009 at 7:52 AM | Suggest Removal

For some reason the UI administration and media won't hold RG accountable for the 40% winning percentage and 3 bowls in 15 years.

Whatever happens, RG should not hire our next head FB coach. So, in that respect, I give him credit for not inflicting another bad hire on the program and handcuffing the next AD.

Posted by kzimmer001 on December 21, 2009 at 8:04 AM | Suggest Removal

Guenther doesn`t build confidence with some really puzzling comments.For example,reflect on these Zook references:

--"Ron Zook needs to be the CEO...". How about Zook needs to be a LEADER who inspires,directs,encourages ,counsels,challenges and accepts responsibility and accountability for victory and defeat.Guenther sounds like he wants Zook as a figurehead,not a Head Coach.

--"he [Zook] could be effective if surrounded by stronger people" Stunning! Zook and Guenther just fired a bunch of coaches that they hired.What is this new coaching crew...a "do over" for the dynamic duo? The new coaches have at least the commonsense to demand two year contracts if they go under the bus next Fall.

--"Zook was willing to consider a new approach".Maybe Guenther could share what that "new approach" will be.Let`s hope that coaches like Dish and Mallory can grasp the "new approach".

Guenther claims that the "transition" could not have been more smooth.What drivel.He and Zook just hired a new coaching teanm last week.There hasn`t been any "transition" yet.That is ahead of us.Guenther needs to stop putting a happy face on everything.That insults loyal students,alumni and a broad fan base.

Posted by bowspray on December 21, 2009 at 8:53 AM | Suggest Removal

Here is the problem - you all call yourselves Illini fans and all you ever do is complain. What about a little support for this program, you don't think the players hear you whiners all the time? You are the fans that sit on your butts at home games and act like you are church. You are the fans that leave the games early even when winning. Look around the Big Ten even with teams that are not in the top five. The stadiums are packed and the fans are on their feet cheering. I agree if Ron Zook was fired we would be again in rebuilding mode for 2 - 3 years. You so called fans would keep the stadium empty and start crying about not going to a bowl game. Time to look in the mirror Illini fans show some support. Until we pack that stadium and there is a sea of orange going crazy – shut up.

Go Illini - Good Luck Ron Zook and staff!

Posted by NYIllini on December 21, 2009 at 9:22 AM | Suggest Removal

What about we are the fans that pay the bills?

Posted by TotalIlliniFan on December 21, 2009 at 9:47 AM | Suggest Removal

Wrigley field is filled with exactly what NYIllini wants to see... just think... we too could go 100+ years without ever winning anything. The problem here is not the fans. And, fans like you should go away!!!

I love the moves that were made and sincerely hope it all works out. Unfortunately, I think we have already seen signs that Zook is not quite smart enough to understand his limitations. While turning over the reigns to Petrino, he did not come out and say the same for Koenning and the defense. I fear he is going to get in the way of the defense being as good as it can be and may already be doing so by keeping Disch and Mallory.

The part I don't agree with is that the best staffs are those that have people that will be head coaches. Just like Zook, some coaches are not head coaching material, they are meant to be life long assistants. I'm not sure Guenther is qualified to determine who makes a good head coach as he hasn't succeeded yet. Additionally, ironically, I believe Mallory may be one of those guys that is a better head coach than assistant, and are likely much better assistants on the market.

Posted by blmillini on December 21, 2009 at 10:45 AM | Suggest Removal

blmillini - I am glad you kept the tradition alive - being a cry baby.......

Don't forget about all the other sports at Illinois and the success of those programs run by RG. Wonder why the Assembly Hall is a feared place to play by opponents. I know - the sea of orange going crazy and showing there support.

Posted by NYIllini on December 21, 2009 at 2:12 PM | Suggest Removal

NYIllini,

your comments are off base. I'm the guy that has gone to nearly every home game and many road/neutral site games since 1986. I've sat in the stadium to the bitter end of many painful games in 3 wins or less seasons. Front-running fans are not following every story on IlliniHQ and adding comments. Try debating points instead of making personal attacks.

And, Illini bball has underperformed under Guenther.

Posted by MyTurn2Raze on December 21, 2009 at 6:50 PM | Suggest Removal

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