Illinois notebook: Zook recommended for contract extension

Less than three full seasons into a major overhaul, Illinois football coach Ron Zook has been recommended for a three-year contract extension through 2012.

<p class="MsoNormal">The school's board of trustees meets Wednesday, and athletic director Ron Guenther recommended the extension and a pay raise that would bump Zook's pay from $1.055 million to $1.305 million. Zook's salary would increase by $200,000 per season to $1.505 million when Illinois gets its first bowl berth under Zook.

<p class="MsoNormal">"It's not something I'm thinking about right now,'' Zook said following practice Monday in Memorial Stadium. "It makes you feel good that they feel like we've made progress. Like I've said all along, we've got a long way to go. This is where we want to be. I'm excited about the opportunity to stay here.

<p class="MsoNormal">"We've just seen the tip of the iceberg where the program can go. We have to continue the things we've been doing. It's a lot of fun for everybody.''

<p class="MsoNormal">Taking over a program thin on talent that hadn't played in a bowl game since winning the Big Ten Conference title in 2001, Zook pumped life into the Illini with highly rated recruiting classes.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Illinois (5-2 overall, 3-1 in the Big Ten) hosts No. 24 Michigan (5-2, 3-0) in Memorial Stadium Saturday (7 p.m., ABC). The Illini are 9-21 in Zook's two-plus seasons.

<p class="MsoNormal">Although the board's executive committee must approve the deal, it's considered a formality.

<p class="MsoNormal">"Our football program has made considerable progress under his leadership,'' Guenther said in a written statement. "We look forward to working with coach Zook and his staff to continue building this program.''

<p class="MsoNormal">Zook's original deal, signed in 2005, runs through the 2009 season.

<p class="MsoNormal">The Illini were 4-19 in Zook's first two seasons in charge. By meshing playmakers recruited by Zook's staff with a handful of holdovers brought here by former coach Ron Turner, the Illini built a five-game winning streak before a loss at Iowa Saturday. Illinois needs one more win to gain bowl eligibility.

<p class="MsoNormal">Zook's base pay is $205,000, and his salary for public relations would move to $900,000 with the amount in deferred compensation rising to $200,000.

<p class="MsoNormal">Quick start

<p class="MsoNormal">This isn't a non-conference basketball schedule that will allow the Illinois men's basketball team to get an easy start. Consider the Illini play at Hawaii before an appearance in the Maui Invitational. Then play at Maryland in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge after losing to the Terps in The Hall last season.

<p class="MsoNormal">With games against Arizona in Chicago and Missouri in St. Louis, Illinois plays only six non-conference home games.

<p class="MsoNormal">"I'll tell you after the Arizona game how I feel about it,'' coach Bruce Weber said. "There's no easy games. I told our guys that we don't have Jackson State and four or five home games to start out. That was one of the reasons we went to Canada. Those were a couple exhibition games and a chance to practice more.''

<p class="MsoNormal">Time and channel

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Illinois' homecoming game against Ball State on Oct. 27 is an 11 a.m. kickoff with television coverage by the Big Ten Network.

<p class="MsoNormal">In league games that day, Indiana plays at Wisconsin (11 a.m., BTN), Northwestern plays at Purdue (11 a.m., BTN), Iowa hosts Michigan State (11 a.m., ESPN2), Minnesota travels to Michigan (2:30 p.m., ESPN classic) and Penn State hosts Ohio State (7 p.m., ABC).

<p class="MsoNormal">Cross country

<p class="MsoNormal">Illinois senior Trent Hoerr of Morton broke the school's 8-kilometer record with a time of 23 minutes 39 seconds while finishing 13th overall at the Pre-Nationals in Terre Haute, Ind., on Saturday. Hoerr's time broke the previous mark by 4 seconds. Illinois finished 16th in the 40-team meet.

<p class="MsoNormal">"His performance in indicative of his hard work and progress and puts him in solid All-American contention.''

<p class="MsoNormal">Sophomore Angela Bizzarri finished fourth overall and led the Illini women to a fifth-place finish in a field that included 10 ranked teams.

<p class="MsoNormal">Etc.

<p class="MsoNormal">Tickets went on sale for Illinois' basketball doubleheader at the United Center on Dec. 8. The Illini men face Arizona at 11 a.m. The Illini women host Chicago State at 1:30 p.m. Tickets can be ordered online at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 312-559-1212. &#8230; When the Illinois women's soccer team defeated Wisconsin 3-0 Sunday, goalie Kindsey Carstens tied the school record with her 24th career shutout. Illinois (8-4-1 overall, 3-2-1 in the Big Ten) plays its final home match while hosting Indiana Friday. &#8230; Illinois stunned No. 11 Minnesota in a four-game volleyball win on the road. The Illini (12-6 overall, 4-4 in the Big Ten) have a four-match win streak for the first time in 15 years.

<p class="MsoNormal">John Supinie can be reached at Johnsupinie@aol.com . For more coverage, read Illini Talk blog at www.sj-r.com and www.pjstar.com.