Ron Guenther’s comment Saturday that he will make changes in the Illinois football program other than head coach Ron Zook places the spotlight on the assistant coaching staff, which makes more money this season than Ron Zook’s salary of slightly more than $1.5 million.

Of course, it takes nine of them to top the head guy.

But those nine combine to earn $1,596,460 this year with offensive coordinator Mike Schultz leading the way, according to contracts obtained from the university. That amount tops $1.6 million with the prorated salaries paid to Dan Disch and Curt Mallory for February.

In today’s paper, I wrote about the buyouts that Illinois would avoid by retaining Zook, who Guenther said will return in 2010. They include buyouts for Reggie Mitchell, Kurt Beathard, Curt Mallory and Dan Disch, who have clauses calling for a 50 percent lump sum payment of their salary if the head coach is terminated.

Here are the assistant coaches’ salaries:

1. Mike Schultz, offensive coordinator, $260,000 (1-6-09 to 1-31-10)
2. Joe Gilbert, offensive line, $200,000 (1-16-09 to 1-31-10)
3. Reggie Mitchell, asst. head coach/RBs/recruiting coordinator, $195,200 (2-1-09 to 1-31-10)
4. Kurt Beathard, quarterbacks, $170,000 (2-1-09 to 1-31-10)
5. a-Curt Mallory, co-defensive coordinator/DBs, $162,000 (3-2-09 to 1-31-10)
6. b-Dan Disch, co-defensive coordinator/LBs, $162,000 (3-2-09 to 1-31-10)
7. Keith Gilmore, defensive line, $160,000 (1-20-09 to 1-31-10)
8. Jim Pry, receivers, $153,600 (2-1-09 to 1-31-10)
9. Mike Woodford, special teams/DBs, $133,660 (2-1-09 to 1-31-10)

    a-Received proportionate amount of $158,680 for period of 2-1-09 to 3-1-09

    b-Received proportionate amount of $151,400 for period of 2-1-09 to 3-1-09