FAU quarterback coach Jeff Brohm, right, watches the Owls practice earlier this season. (FAUOwlAccess.com file photo)
Brohm: 'I loved it here'
FAU quarterback coach Jeff Brohm leaves Boca Raton, accepting the same position at Illinois.
Originally published on
12/14/2009
by
Chuck King
> Video Archive:Brohm makes adjustment to Van Camp
Florida Atlantic quarterback coach Jeff Brohm has left FAU to accept the same position at Illinois.
Brohm told FAU coaches of his decision Monday afternoon.
“I loved it here,” Brohm said when reached Monday night. “I love coach (Schnellenberger). He is the best. I learned a great deal from him as a player and even more as a coach.”
Brohm said he weighed several offers before choosing Illinois, but declined to name them.
"I think they have a good thing going and I really didn’t want to leave," Brohm said. "This opportunity came up. I'm still a little young in my life so I figured I would just run with it."
The former University of Louisville quarterback and offensive coordinator spent one season at FAU, working under his former coach Howard Schnellenberger.
As quarterbacks coach, Brohm oversaw the Owls’ mid-year quarterback transition from Rusty Smith to Jeff Van Camp after Smith incurred a season-ending shoulder injury in the seventh game.
Smith and Van Camp combined to throw for more than 3,200 yards and 26 touchdowns in 2009.
Brohm will be reunited with Paul Petrino, who takes over as the Illini’s offensive coordinator. Petrino preceded Brohm as Louisville’s offensive coordinator. Brohm served as Petrino’s quarterback coach before ascending to coordinator after Petrino left for Arkansas.
Former University of Florida coach Ron Zook is currently the Illinois head coach.
"I definitely wish FAU the best and I think they have a good thing going," Brohm said. "It’s a gold mine here."