Illinois fires Bill Cubit

Submitted by Wolverine Devotee on

http://fightingillini.com/news/2016/3/5/cubit-dismissed-as-u-of-i-footb…

LOL.

Their new AD did this his first day on the job.

Their already-awful team will have spring practice delayed until they hire a coach per the release.

 

Illinois AD Josh Whitman fires head coach Bill Cubit on his first day on the job. Says stability was needed.

— Dan Murphy (@DanMurphyESPN) March 5, 2016
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Leaders And Best

March 5th, 2016 at 12:45 PM ^

I can't see any any upwardly mobile coach taking the Illinois job under these circumstances. The program is in shambles, and you lose a full recruiting cycle and have few options for assistant coaches and support staff by taking the job this late.

But on the other hand, Illinois' AD probably doesn't make this move right now unless he already has something else lined up. I don't think it is Fleck, but the AD may already have a informal agreement with the next HC.

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rob f

March 5th, 2016 at 2:38 PM ^

the Illini might be trying to copy Michigan: hire an ex-49er coach. After all, two of the last 3 Coaches fired by the 49ers should be immediately available: Mike Singletary and Jim Tomsula. It's a formula that worked for the Illini's biggest rival---and it might just work for them...NOT!!!

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March 5th, 2016 at 12:28 PM ^

I'm honestly a fan of this for many reasons.
1.Cubit is not a BIG worthy head coach
2.Cubit finished with the 71st recruiting class behind schools like USF,Western Michigan, Georgia southern, Memphis, Marshall, UAB who doesn't even have a program!!!! That's just not acceptable.
3. Illinois is a BIG money they can do better than a guy like cubit and need to hire a proven coach, if they can not PJ Fleck who was born in Illinois or the coach at Temple are far better options then Cubit.



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Wolverine Devotee

March 5th, 2016 at 12:59 PM ^

Because we had a moron leading the "coaching search". Read the books and find out for yourself.

2008-2014 could've been prevented if the ADs (plural) actually did their job instead of playing squash (Martin) or not let their ego get in the way of hiring a real coach (DB).

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March 5th, 2016 at 1:09 PM ^

The reasons are irrelevant the whole point of this particular part was about recruiting. I know Hoke sucked and I know Michigan shouldn't have hired him but they did and in less than a month he finished with the 21st class, Cubit had 2 months and finished with the 71st class that is the point.



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Mr Miggle

March 5th, 2016 at 3:20 PM ^

He only had a two year contract, their department was in turmoil and they were in the process of hiring a new AD. His job security was very shaky and that's a killer in recruiting. You could also blame Harbaugh. He poached players from PSU's class and franklin responded by poaching from cubit's.

That's nothing like Hoke's situation when he was hired. He was brought in as the coach who would unify Michigan's fractured football culture. RR left him with a better half of a recruiting class than Illinois could even dream of having. Still, he had a subpar class ranking for Michigan.

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PopeLando

March 5th, 2016 at 12:47 PM ^

It isn't THAT he was fired. It's that it was NOW. This is the worst possible time to fire a coach: all the good replacement candidates already have jobs, 2017 recruiting is irreparably damaged, and you have an entire football team milling around waiting for something to do. There are really only three reasons for this: 1) Major scandal/violation/insult that we don't know about. 2) A big fish coach who is ready to step in immediately that we don't know about. 3) Foolish AD who is more concerned about making his mark immediately than on field success. My money is on #3. Good luck, Illini players.

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March 5th, 2016 at 1:11 PM ^

I understand your point but my point is might as well get it over with. Money talks and if Illinois is willing to pay then they can get a coach. Michigan just hired a couple of coaches in the last week or two so it can be done with the right coach. Or if you find a coach at the college level he will bring assistants with him.



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Blue Durham

March 5th, 2016 at 2:04 PM ^

Give the guy a break, he played at Illinois and played in the NFL, maybe he has higher standards for his alma mater then Bill Cubit.
If by "higher standards" you mean "delusions of grandeur" then, yes, you might be right. You have little idea right now how this AD is going to be, but I think there will be an immediate indication. If this AD is competent, then he already has someone lined up, and the coaching hire will be announced within a day or two. If not, and a coaching search goes on for weeks, then this guy is colossally incompetent. If one were correct to assume the "We" in your handle is Illinois; where do you think Illinois is "back" to?

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kalamazoo

March 5th, 2016 at 3:58 PM ^

I don't understand the certainty in saying that now is the worst time. There is no way of knowing that.

On the plus side, it allows recruiting 10 months to recover before the next signing day instead of doing it after the season. Recruits will know that the next coach will get at least 3-4 years (barring a scandal) so they can commit knowing there will be continuity.

Yes, perhaps there won't be a coach for awhile, but we don't know that. The AD may have someone lined up.

There are tons of coaches available if the money will be paid.

Your move, AD.

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bacon1431

March 5th, 2016 at 12:42 PM ^

WHY ARE ATHLETIC DIRECTORS SO DUMB

Unless Cubit did something stupid, I don't see the point of this. Fire him after he has a mediocre season this year and use the next 7-8 months to keep an eye out for coaches. Now you've got to hire a guy in the spring or just insert another interim. 

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