Coach Ron Zook - Head Coach, University of Illinois

November 7, 2007

CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS –University of Illinois head football coach Ron Zook will coach in the 2008 Hula Bowl, the game's President Nick Logan announced on Wednesday.

"This is a great honor to be selected to coach in the Hula Bowl," Zook said. "I really look forward to the opportunity to work with the best college football has to offer. The Hula Bowl has such a rich tradition and I feel privileged to be a part of this year’s game."

Zook is in his third season at the helm of the Illinois football program. After two two-win seasons, Zook has led the Fighting Illini to a 6-3 record (5-2 in the Big Ten) through their first nine games. He also has Illinois bowl eligible for the first time since 2001. Zook, in his sixth year as a head coach, has produced four bowl eligible squads (three at Florida, one at Illinois).

For the past two seasons, Illinois has boasted one of the nation’s top-10 rushing offenses. The Illini won the 2006 conference rushing title and has led the Big Ten through nine weeks this season as well. The team also boasts two all-star candidates in returning All-American linebacker J Leman and running back Rashard Mendenhall.

Not only has Zook led the Illini back to national prominence on the field, but his recruiting efforts off the field have landed two consecutive top-30 classes. His efforts with the 2007 class rated them among the top 3 in the Big Ten and top 15 nationally.

"We are pleased that Coach Zook will be coaching in the 2008 Hula Bowl game. His resume speaks for itself, and we are pleased that he has agreed to join Coach Miles in leading our Aina team. Coach Zooks style and drive will resonate well with our all-star football players and the state of Hawaii," said Logan.

The 2008 Hula Bowl all-star game, now in its 63rd year, will be played Sat. Jan. 12, 2008 at Aloha Stadium on the island of Oahu. The Versus network has been selected to televise the game, which kicks off at 1 PM HST / 6 PM EST.