Paul Petrino's salary will turn heads in SEC
December, 15, 2009
12/15/09
9:55
AM ET
You think a few offensive coordinators around the SEC perked up when they heard what Paul Petrino was going to be making at Illinois?
Petrino, who left Arkansas to take the Illinois offensive coordinator's job, received a two-year deal worth $475,000 per year.
That’s more than any offensive coordinator in this league is making, and in a lot of cases, $100,000 or more than what SEC offensive coordinators are making.
Make no mistake. It’s a gamble for Petrino. Illinois faces a win-or-else season next year, or Ron Zook will almost certainly be out of there. But Petrino does have a two-year deal, and it’s also a chance for him to call plays.
Getting out from under his older brother’s shadow and calling his own plays was probably something he needed to do if he’s going to get a head-coaching job.
The younger Petrino certainly did a nice job with the Arkansas receivers. The threesome of Greg Childs, Joe Adams and Jarius Wright -- all sophomores -- combined to catch 18 touchdown passes this season.
Petrino, who left Arkansas to take the Illinois offensive coordinator's job, received a two-year deal worth $475,000 per year.
That’s more than any offensive coordinator in this league is making, and in a lot of cases, $100,000 or more than what SEC offensive coordinators are making.
Make no mistake. It’s a gamble for Petrino. Illinois faces a win-or-else season next year, or Ron Zook will almost certainly be out of there. But Petrino does have a two-year deal, and it’s also a chance for him to call plays.
Getting out from under his older brother’s shadow and calling his own plays was probably something he needed to do if he’s going to get a head-coaching job.
The younger Petrino certainly did a nice job with the Arkansas receivers. The threesome of Greg Childs, Joe Adams and Jarius Wright -- all sophomores -- combined to catch 18 touchdown passes this season.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Chris Low
Low joined ESPN.com in 2007 after 10 years with The (Nashville) Tennessean covering the University of Tennessee and SEC. The Rock Hill, S.C., native lives with his wife in Knoxville and has three sons.
Edward Aschoff
Aschoff joined ESPN.com in 2011 after spending four years covering the University of Florida for The Gainesville Sun. He grew up in Oxford, Miss., before attending UF, graduating with a B.S. in journalism.
SEC SCOREBOARD
Saturday, 12/17
Final Temple 37 Wyoming 15 Final Ohio 24 Utah State 23 Final San Diego State 30 Louisiana-Lafayette 32
Tuesday, 12/20
Wednesday, 12/21
Final 18 TCU 31 Louisiana Tech 24
Thursday, 12/22
Saturday, 12/24
Final Nevada 17 21 Southern Miss 24
Monday, 12/26
Tuesday, 12/27
Final Western Michigan 32 Purdue 37 Final Louisville 24 North Carolina State 31
Wednesday, 12/28
Final Toledo 42 Air Force 41 Final California 10 24 Texas 21
Thursday, 12/29
Final Florida State 18 Notre Dame 14 Final Washington 56 12 Baylor 67
Friday, 12/30
Final Brigham Young 24 Tulsa 21 Final Rutgers 27 Iowa State 13 Final Mississippi State 23 Wake Forest 17 Final Iowa 14 14 Oklahoma 31
Saturday, 12/31
Final Texas A&M 33 Northwestern 22 Final/OT Georgia Tech 27 Utah 30 Final Illinois 20 UCLA 14 Final Cincinnati 31 Vanderbilt 24 Final Virginia 24 25 Auburn 43
Monday, 1/2
Final 19 Houston 30 22 Penn State 14 Final Ohio State 17 Florida 24 Final/3OT 17 Michigan State 33 16 Georgia 30 Final 20 Nebraska 13 9 South Carolina 30 Final 10 Wisconsin 38 5 Oregon 45 Final/OT 4 Stanford 38 3 Oklahoma State 41
Tuesday, 1/3
Final/OT 13 Michigan 23 11 Virginia Tech 20
Wednesday, 1/4
Final 23 West Virginia 70 15 Clemson 33
Friday, 1/6
Final 8 Kansas State 16 6 Arkansas 29
Saturday, 1/7
Sunday, 1/8
Monday, 1/9
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