[vincesanity82]

And the postseason rewards continue to roll in for the Illini. After Rashard Mendenhall won the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, and Arrelious Benn won the Big Ten Rookie of the Year, the man responsible for it all, Ron Zook, has won the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award.

Illinois coach Ron Zook won the Liberty Mutual coach of the year award Saturday for leading one of the best turnarounds in college football this season.

"It's very satisfying because we accomplished some of our goals and got the program going in the right direction," Zook said in a phone interview earlier this week as he prepared for the Rose Bowl against Southern California on Jan. 1.

It wasn't that long ago that Zook was labeled as a great recruiter and a bad coach. Now he's winning the coach of the year award.

It really has been a wonderful season for Illinois football fans in 2007. While it was expected that the team would improve this season, and maybe win enough games for bowl eligibility, nobody thought the Illini would finish the season in the Rose Bowl against USC.

Ron Zook Named Coach of the Year - FanHouse - AOL Sports Blog

[azrael492]

Wasn't this the guy that was run out of Florida? Looks to be a good coach to me.

[vincesanity82]

Originally Posted by azrael492

Wasn't this the guy that was run out of Florida? Looks to be a good coach to me.

yes he was and yes he is..

[Lefty Noob]

Well, it worked out pretty well for Florida too, but... congrats to the Zooker. Thanks to him, there's a new team joining the Big Ten's elite.

[azrael492]

I am glad they are becomong good again. They have always been my favorite behind OSU. They are my favorite in college basketball since the days of Kenny Battle