I doubt it. Their last names are pronounced differently, too (a rough translation: Ver-saych compared to Ver-sah-chee).
I didn't think it was likely. Gianni Versace, the fashion designer, was born in Italy...the coach is probably from a family which has lived in the US for several generations. I had never heard of the guy who got killed until I saw the headlines about his murder, and I hadn't heard of the coach until this announcment (I don't follow Bradley University sports teams).
Peoria Co. went narrowly for Gore in 2000 and for Kerry in 2004, but some of the nearby counties went heavily for Bush...it ought to be a seat that the Republicans can hold on to.