At the end of November, Illinois interim coach Bill Cubit had his interim tag removed and was formally named the head coach of the Fighting Illini. Little more than three months later, Cubit has been fired.
Illinois athletics director Josh Whitman made the announcement Saturday morning, which, not coincidentally, was his first official day in that capacity.
“At this juncture … 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,” Whitman said in a statement, explaining the reasoning behind the sudden firing.
The decision is weird for a number of reasons. First, Cubit was hired in November and was given a two year deal at that time. Second, Illinois’s spring practice was slated for next week, but has been postponed as a result. Third, it’s March – very late in the game for a college football coaching change, as virtually all of the really attractive candidates have either already taken jobs or are entrenched in their current positions. It’s not like Illinois is a hugely desirable coaching position, so they may have some difficulty filling the abrupt vacancy.
