AUSTIN, Texas -- John Mackovic Thursday left the University of Illinois to become head football coach at the University of Texas, saying he did so because of the, 'rich tradition and rich history,' of the Longhorns.
Mackovic, who during the 1980s worked at two universities and with two professional football teams, told Illinois officials he hadbeen, 'perfectly happy,' at that school.
But he said he felt he could not pass up a chance to coach the Longhorns after meeting with the school's president and athletic director earlier this week.
Mackovic replaces David McWilliams, who resigned under pressure after suffering through three losing seasons in a five-year tenure with the school. McWilliams was the first football coach in the 99-year history of the university to have three losing campaigns.
'This is a special place,' said Texas Athletic Director DeLoss Dodds in introducing Mackovic. 'We found that out when we discovered how many people were interested in coming here.
'We were fortunate to find a man early. We found a man who wanted to be at the University of Texas. He stands for academics. He believes in the whole student. And now he believes in the University of Texas.'
Mackovic praised the University of Illinois as being one of the finest research institutions in the country.
He said, however, the lure of coaching football in Texas was impossible to turn down.
'This school has a rich tradition and rich history,' Mackovic said. 'Its football program is something that is known throughout the country. It is talked about, it is followed, it is revered and it is understood. It has been a benchmark program for years.'
Mackovic coached his alma mater Wake Forest for three years before being hired by Dallas Cowboys coach Tom Landry as quarterback coach in 1981. Between his time with the Cowboys and his moving to Illinois, he coached the Kansas City Chiefs.
Prior to his flight to Austin for an afternoon news conference, Mackovic told reporters in Champaign, Ill., that he had enjoyed his stay at Illinois, where he had been head coach and athletic director for three years.
'There's absolutely no reason here in Champaign or the university for my leaving. I've been perfectly happy, satisfied,' Mackovic said.
'I think Texas football is synonymous with some of the outstanding traditions and rivalries in the history of college football.'
Mackovic also said he decided he would rather stay with coaching since he had become 'less interested in pursuing any opportunity in the National Football League because I found I enjoyed the college game even more than I had remembered.'
And he said he knew the coming years as athletic director at Champaign-Urbana would require him to spend more and more time away from the university.
Reports indicated Mackovic, 48, was getting a five-year package loaded with perks worth some $3 million -- about $600,000 annually -- compared with the $400,000 annual salary he had earned at Illinois. However, Illinois officials had put together a sweetened package worth about $500,000 that would have extended into the next century.
Sources told the Chicago Tribune that Mackovic, who compiled a 30-16- 1 record in four years at Illinois and a 6-5 mark this season, was lured more by the opportunity to win a national championship than by financial considerations.
Illinois Chancellor Morton Weir heaped praise on Mackovic's accomplishments.
'I'd like to congratulate John and tell Texas they're getting a strong, excellent coach with all the right values. When John Mackovic came here as coach, our football program was in a shambles. He turned it around and today it's a program that can move confidently into the future.
'Intercollegiate athletics was in the red when John became athletic director. He established firm control and it has operated in the black since he took over,' Weir said.
The change of guard could be very quick, university spokesman Mike Pearson said.
'I think it will be immediate,' Pearson said. 'We anticipate at least an interim replacement will be named later (Thursday).'
The Illinois athletic board scheduled an emergency meeting for noon Thursday. Lou Tepper, the Illini defensive coordinator, was expected to be named at least interim head coach.
Tepper has been a top candidate for other jobs, including the head coaching job at Northwestern. Illinois officials were believed under pressure to sign him quickly to keep him from leaving.
Tepper already has interviewed once with Northwestern to replace Francis Peay and has been told to return a second time for an interview with athletic director Bruce Corrie.
Bob Todd was expected to replace Mackovic as athletic director. He has been Mackovic's assistant.
On Wednesday, Mackovic went north to Chicago to meet with Texas Athletic Director DeLoss Dodds, university President William Cunningham and former coach Darrell Royal. He informed Illinois President Stanley Ikenberry and Chancellor Weir late in the day of his decision to leave.
