Zook losing top ally in retiring Guenther

Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany: "Ron Guenther's contributions at the University of Illinois over the last two decades have been truly remarkable, unique and historic. Ron has built buildings, balanced the budget, hired good coaches, grown educational and athletic opportunities for student-athletes and demanded integrity. And he has done it all with both a love for the university and a full awareness of how intercollegiate athletics is an integral part of the higher education mission. I will always appreciate his sense of collegiality and the value he placed on the conference. No other director of athletics enjoyed more friendships among Big Ten administrators than Ron, and we all look forward to continuing the relationships he has built over the last 20 years. On a personal note, I've had a lot of good friends in my time at the Big Ten, but there's no finer person than Ron, and I wish him and his wife Megan all the best in the future."

Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez: "The Big Ten Conference will miss Ron Guenther. No one knows better what the Big Ten is all about than Ron. He made a great contribution not only to Illinois, but to our conference."

Rittenberg