Ron Zook works in a small local bank these days. A Gateway Bank branch in Ocala, Florida, as you no doubt have heard by now. Well, apparently those days will be coming to an end, as he’s joined the Green Bay Packers coaching staff as an Assistant Special Teams Coach, two NFL sources confirmed to ESPN Friday.
The Packers are expected to announce the official hiring later today.
Ron Zook, the former Head Coach of the Florida Gators and the Illinois Fighting Illini, has been out of football coaching since 2011 when his contract was bought out by University of Illinois Athletic Director Mike Thomas. The Zooker “set a record” of sorts when the Illini started 6-0 and finished 0-6. Since the advent of the 12 game schedule, no other Coach “accomplished” such a feat.
Since then Ron Zook, in addition to duties as business officer at a small local bank, has been doing a lot of water-skiing and appearing as a regular panelist on the television show “Inside College Football” on CBS Sports Network.
Ron Zook has previous NFL coaching experience too, serving as New Orleans Saints Defensive Coordinator from 2000-01. Ultimately, his legacy has been that of a great recruiter, but awful Xs and Os and in-game decision maker. A new start for Ron Zook in Green Bay under head Coach Mike McCarthy will give him a chance to change that.
Paul M. Banks owns The Sports Bank.net, an affiliate of Fox Sports. An MBA and Fulbright scholar, he’s also a frequent analyst on news talk radio; with regular segments on ESPN,NBC, CBS and Fox. A former NBC Chicago and Washington Times writer, he’s also been featured on the History Channel. President Obama follows him on Twitter (@paulmbanks)