CHAMPAIGN — He went to work Monday morning. Not at the crack of dawn. Vic Koenning wanted to see his kids off to school for a change.

Once he arrived at the Illinois football offices, the memories of being a head coach started to kick in for Koenning.

On Sunday, Koenning was promoted to interim head coach in place of Ron Zook. Reporters forgot to ask athletic director Mike Thomas if Koenning gets a raise.

The workload has certainly increased for the Illinois defensive coordinator. On Monday, his phone was buzzing. He needed to keep it plugged into the charger for fear it would run out of juice.

Koenning knows the drill after serving as Wyoming head coach from 2000 to '02. The first time didn't go well, the Cowboys finishing 5-29. Koenning has been craving a second chance, but not like this.

"It's not a situation you want to be in," Koenning said. "You've got to deal with a lot of emotions. There's a thousand things to do. As I've said before, head coaching responsibilities aren't easy and it's why they pay them a lot."

His immediate plans have little to do with football and everything to do with the future of his players.

"We've tripled up our efforts in the academic world," Koenning said. "We've targeted those guys that need extra work. It's academic two-a-days or it's academic two-minute drill, however you want to say it. We're putting the press on there. The academic staff is in full force."

The players will lift weights today.

"Lifting weights can definitely boost your enthusiasm," Koenning said. "You feel better when you come out of the weight room. We've got to find a way to get rid of some of the negativity and feel better about things."

There won't be any practices this week, Koenning said. If the team is offered a bowl bid and accepts it, the practices will resume next week.

"I need to get a feel for whether the players are going to want to play in a bowl," Koenning said. "I'm big on actions speak louder than words, and our actions last Saturday night may not have indicated that.

"We've got some things we want to get accomplished, but we've got to get on the same page."

Koenning is putting together a group of players to help lead the team. He thinks the Illini will ultimately want to accept the bowl invitation if one is extended.

"We need every oar in the water," Koenning said. "Every single one. We don't need anybody to be any dead weight. The nature of this situation is such that this is an opportunity for guys to stray and to go their own way. We can't do that."

Most of the Illinois assistants are out recruiting.

"That's a tough duty for them to recruit where they don't know who the head coach is going to be," Koenning said.

Koenning said he has talked to a few of the recruits who have made a commitment to Illinois. He said they are doing well and are still "excited about Illinois."

The remaining coaches have other thoughts on their minds. Like where will they be working in 2012?

"Most of all, we've got to take care of our families," Koenning said. "Our families are going through a really tough time. I know that I got a text from my wife, something about aging at warp speed. We've all got to try to find other jobs. That takes some phone calls. I'm doing it."

After that comes recruiting and keeping the current players together.

Koenning's defense is considered a strength of the team. Koenning said he would consider staying at Illinois with the new head coach.

"My family's really happy here," Koenning said. "We'll just have to cross that bridge if the opportunity presents itself."

Koenning said he is also interested in a couple of open head coaching positions.

Honored Illini. Illinois defensive end Whitney Mercilus and receiver A.J. Jenkins were named first-team All-Big Ten by both the media and coaches panels.

"I put in the extra work in the offseason and I guess it paid off," Jenkins said.

Next, Jenkins would like to break the school record for receiving yards in a season. He has 1,194 yards, 84 behind all-time leader David Williams.

"If we go to a bowl game, hopefully I'll be able to break it," Jenkins said.

Mercilus leads the nation in sacks and forced fumbles. If Illinois plays in a bowl game, Mercilus will need two sacks to break Simeon Rice's single-season record of 16. He owns the Big Ten record with nine forced fumbles and is one short of the NCAA record.

While Jenkins entered the season considered one of the top receivers in the Big Ten, Mercilus had a breakout season. Mercilus was excited to hear he had made the first team.

"It's definitely been a blessing," Mercilus said. "It feels great."

Illinois offensive tackle Jeff Allen, bandit Michael Buchanan and linebacker Jonathan Brown earned second-team honors.