Tim Beckman hit the ground running as Illinois' new football coach. He arrived in Champaign on Friday morning, met the media at 3 p.m. and donors at 5, then planned to call recruits at night. A quick read:

Salary: Beckman, who was making $400,000 annually at Toledo, gets a five-year contract with a total value of $9 million. His first-year pay at Illinois will be $1.6 million, with steady increases in future years for an average of $1.8 million. Ron Zook was making $1.75 million in 2011. Beckman’s final contract is being worked out.

Staff: Beckman said he wants to bring as many of his Toledo assistants with him as possible, including offensive coordinator Matt Campbell, the Rockets’ interim coach. Beckman hasn’t eliminated any of the current Illinois staff members. Illinois fans are hoping Beckman retains popular defensive coordinator Vic Koenning.

Schedule: Beckman will be in Champaign-Urbana today and for part of Sunday morning. He will return to Toledo on Sunday afternoon for what figures to be an emotional team banquet. Then, he’s back at Illinois on Sunday to attend the men’s basketball game against Coppin State. Beckman plans to hit the road recruiting Monday.

San Francisco: Beckman won’t coach the Illini in the Dec. 31 Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl but plans to be at the game as an observer. Though his final schedule hasn’t been worked out, Beckman could spend multiple days in California, getting to know his players and starting to formulate plans once he takes over the team.

Our coverage includes:

STORIES

Tate — A good hire

Asmussen — How it came about

Asmussen — How a wild Friday unfolded

Reaction — ex-Illini, Big Ten coaches, media types

Bleill — How did Beckman play on Opening Day

Asmussen — 5 things on the to-do list

Bleill — Best MAC has to offer

CHATS

Cody Westerlund — Can he recruit?

Bob Asmussen — What's next?

PODCASTS

Press conference

Fans react with Jim Turpin

PHOTO GALLERY

Beckman's day

VIDEO

Mike Thomas and Beckman