It's now more important than ever for Illinois head coach Ron Zook to build off of a successful 2010 season in Champaign.
Because with athletic director Ron Guenther announcing Monday that he will retire when his contract expires June 30, Zook will have a lot less room for error as he tries to keep the Fighting Illini trending in the right direction.
ICONWinning is the only way for Ron Zook to ease any possible concerns of his new AD.
The Big Ten's longest-tenured athletic director at 19 years with the same school, Guenther revealed in a statement that a search committee has been formed and that he expects his successor to be in place by the end of the summer.
"The last 19 years have gone extremely fast and a decision to retire has been very difficult," Guenther said in a statement. "I personally want to thank all the members of the [department of intercollegiate athletics] as well as our colleagues in the academic community for their support. I have been fortunate to work with an extremely talented and loyal group. I will always be indebted. Additionally, the Illinois fan base is the best in the nation. I've always said we are fortunate to have individuals who have great passion and loyalty for the University of Illinois."
Guenther, who became Illinois' athletic director on May 14, 1992, was instrumental in getting a $121 million renovation of Memorial Stadium approved as well as having an indoor practice facility built for the football team.
So what does this move mean for Zook?
Well, we all know what happens when a new regime comes in and takes over a program. As in any profession, a new leader often will want his or her handpicked selection in place to carry out a specific vision. The only way for Zook to persuade the next AD that he is the right man to lead Illinois into the future is to win. And, frankly, Zook hasn't won enough in Champaign up to this point. In six seasons at the school, he has compiled an overall record of 28–45 with a 16–32 mark in Big Ten play.
Is the program on the right track under his leadership? That seems to be the case after a solid 7-6 campaign last fall. But with Mikel Leshoure, Martez Wilson and Corey Liuget moving onto the NFL, a lot of pressure will rest on the shoulders of sophomore signal caller Nathan Scheelhaase, whose play this spring continued to impress the coaching staff.
We saw the impact that new coordinators Paul Petrino and Vic Koenning had on the offense and defense, respectively, last season. Can the units once again play inspired ball for Zook? Or will we see a dropoff similar to the one we witnessed for two seasons after the team's appearance in the Rose Bowl.
Next fall will be big for Zook -- and much bigger now following Guenther's announcement Monday. While his current contract may run through 2013, that doesn't mean he will see the end of his deal unless more bowl games are on the horizon.
Email dave.miller@nationalfootballpost.com or follow me on Twitter at Miller_Dave