Former Florida Gators and Illinois Illini head coach Ron Zook is back in college football.

University of Maryland head coach Mike Locksley announced that Zook would join his staff and become a senior analyst working with special teams and defense. Locksley worked under Zook at both Florida and Illinois.

Since Zook was fired at Illinois in 2011, he hasn’t coached in college football. In fact, it took three years (2014) to join another football staff with the Green Bay Packers. He coached for the Packers until 2018. Zook then joined the AAF’s Salt Lake Stallions as the special teams coordinator and secondary coach.

Zook was the head coach at Florida from 2002-2004 and replaced the legendary Steve Spurrier. Zook finished with a 23-14 record and was fired before the end of the 2014 season after losing to Mississippi State 38-31. Urban Meyer was later hired to replace Zook.

Illinois then hired Zook in 2005, and he coached there until 2011. He finished with a 57-65 overall record.