Ron Zook fired after 7 seasons at Illinois

Illinois football coach Ron Zook has been fired by new Athletic Director Mike Thomas. This ends Zook's 7-year run as the head coach at Illinois. The Illini finished the 2011 regular season with a 6-6 record, but ended on a 6-game losing streak after winning 6 in a row to start the year.

Zook was hired at Illinois in December 2004. His teams went 4-19 during his first two years but reached the Rose Bowl in 2008. Two more losing seasons following, nearly costing Zook his job in 2009. Then-AD Ron Guenther decided to keep Zook at the top, but shook up his coaching staff. Its a move that appeared to have paid off as the Illini won the Texas Bowl in 2010. It looked like they had carried over that momentum into this season, winning their first 6 games - but a second-half slide has cost Zook his job.

Zook year-by-year:
2005: 2-9 (0-8)
2006: 2-10 (1-7)
2007: 9-4 (6-2)
2008: 5-7 (3-5)
2009: 3-9 (2-6)
2010: 7-6 (4-4)
2011: 6-6 (2-6)
Total: 34-51

Zook's final weeks were marred by distractions concerning his future:
Zook refuses to address his job security
Zook walks out of press conference