LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Nearly seven weeks after he was fired as head coach at Illinois, Ron Turner returned to the Chicago Bears for a second stint as their offensive coordinator.
Turner had the opportunity to take the same position with the Baltimore Ravens where head coach Brian Billick is a good friend but said he picked the Bears because it was a better fit professionally and personally.
"I had two very good options. I felt it was the best one for me and my family," he said. Turner signed a three-year deal worth a reported $500,000 per season.
Geography was a factor in his decision.
Turner has four children, including a son who plays at Centennial High in Champaign, and he said Sunday the family is still deciding whether to stay put 150 miles away or move back to Chicago.
He replaces Terry Shea, who was fired after just one season. The injury-ravaged Bears went 5-11 and were last in most of the league's offensive categories, including scoring and total yards. They also set franchise records for penalties and sacks allowed.
After he was fired on Nov. 22 at Illinois following a 3-8 record that left his total record at 35-57, Turner said he wasn't sure if he wanted to get back into college coaching or take a year off. He had two years left on his contract with the Illini.