If stability is a virtue, the Illinois football program lacks that one key ingredient to sustained success.
Just four months after having his interim tag removed and agreeing to a new two-year contract, head coach Bill Cubit was fired on Saturday:
Cubit Dismissed as #Illini Football Coach » https://t.co/7x4mg6jSqp
— Illinois Football (@IlliniFootball) March 5, 2016
In making the decision public, the school’s new athletic director Josh Whitman had this to say:
“I appreciate the leadership that Bill Cubit provided our football program during what has been, unquestionably, a very tumultuous time,” Whitman said in a statement. “He accepted the challenge on an interim basis under incredibly difficult and unusual circumstances, and he has continued to work diligently for the betterment of our student-athletes. Through his efforts, he has kept the program moving forward. Bill is a good man and a good football coach. All of us in the Illini Nation owe him a debt of gratitude for his work leading our team these last months.”
It was Whitman’s first move as the athletic director in his first day at that position. Needless to say, he didn’t view Cubit as anywhere near the long-term solution for the Illini.
Whitman continued:
“At this juncture, however, I think it is most important that we position our program for long-term success by creating a more stable environment for the coaches, players, and prospective student-athletes.”
Cubit was hired as the program’s interim coach when former head man Tim Beckman was fired in August after an investigation showed that he engaged in verbal abuse directed at his players.
Illinois went 5-7 with Cubit at the helm, a record that was good enough for the school to give him a two-year extension back in November.
With the late nature of this move, Illinois has already placed itself behind the proverbial eight ball.
Spring practice was set to begin next week. It will now be pushed back. It’s also highly likely that the Illini spring game, set for mid April, will also be delayed.
Whitman did indicate that he will act rather fast in terms of hiring a replacement. I guess that’s good new considering how late in the offseason the firing came.