Illinois' new athletic director Josh Whitman made his presence known Saturday, as he fired head football coach Bill Cubit after he was named the head coach and given a two-year contract one day after the 2015 season on Nov. 29.
Cubit took over as interim head coach shortly before the 2015 season and led the Illini to a 5-7 record, but he struggled in conference play on winning two games in the Big Ten conference. The move comes as a surprise, and it's unknown what direction the new athletic director plans to take in hiring the next head football coach.
"I appreciate the leadership that Bill Cubit provided our football program during what has been, unquestionably, a very tumultuous time," Whitman said. "All of us in the Illini Nation owe him a debt of gratitude for his work leading our team these last months. 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."
Both Cubit and his son offensive coordinator Ryan Cubit have been fired from the program, but Whitman has said that the rest of the coaching staff will have a chance to interview with their next head coach. Cubit took over at a difficult time for the program, as Beckman was fired for the mishandling of athletes' injuries, which included allegations that he encouraged hurt players to keep playing and avoid medical treatment.
The Fighting Illini are looking to build a winning football program in the Big Ten but have struggled to establish themselves in the conference, as their last winning season came in 2011 with a 7-6 overall record. Illinois football hasn't posted a double digit winning season since 2001, and Whitman seems determined to find a coach that will turn Illinois back into a contender.
That may be easier said than done, as college football teams are underway with spring practices, and Illinois will now have to delay theirs, as they were scheduled to start on March 11. Whitman said he will announce the next head coach "as soon as possible" and will likely have to make the hiring quickly, as other programs in the Big Ten are already preparing for the 2016 season.
