A threatened boycott by as many as four Illinois assistant coaches for Saturday's Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl will remain exactly that: a threat. According to former Illinois coach Ron Zook, who spoke with several of the assistants Friday morning and later Friday night, there will be no boycott over a contract dispute with the school. Zook, who was dismissed in late November, said he was assured by his former assistants that the entire staff would participate in the bowl game against UCLA. "They're going to coach," said Zook, when contacted by ESPN.com Friday evening. "They're [the assistants] frustrated. But they're going to coach. They know it's about the kids. But they were trying to make a point. They've got careers, family, all of those things. They're class guys. And it's important that everyone knows they're really good people." The dispute centers around a contract promise that Zook said was made to several of his assistant coaches by him and former Illinois athletic director Ron Guenther. According to Zook, the assistants -- Jeff Brohm, Ron West and Chip Long -- were told they would receive two-year deals which would run through the 2012 regular season. Assistant Joe Gilbert has told SI.com that he also was promised a multiyear contract. Read more: http://espn.go.com/chicago/ncf/stor...lini-assistants-coach-kraft-fight-hunger-bowl
