Nov. 26--Illinois is exploring the idea of offering interim football coach Bill Cubit a two-year deal as the permanent coach, sources told the Tribune on Wednesday.
The deal would alleviate some of the pressure to hire an athletic director in a short time frame. Hiring Cubit to a short-term deal also would be cost-effective for an athletic department that has become synonymous with buyouts.
The potential deal also could help with recruiting by eliminating some uncertainty about the position.
But the sources indicated Illinois coaches still are operating under a cloud of uncertainty, not knowing if their days are numbered.
Interim athletic director Paul Kowalczyk told WSKJ-FM 93.5 in Urbana on Wednesday that he would announce a decision on Cubit's future Sunday.
The Illini (5-6, 2-5 Big Ten) play Northwestern on Saturday at Soldier Field. A victory would make them eligible for a bowl for a second straight season.
But according to sources, Cubit's future hinges less on the outcome of Saturday's game and more on the program's pressing time frame to make significant hires.
The search for a permanent coach and athletic director is unorganized, the sources said, with program donors taking it upon themselves to attempt to contact candidates with Illinois ties. Interim Chancellor Barbara Wilson is also taking the lead on vetting candidates, a source said.
Cubit, the Illini's offensive coordinator the previous two seasons, was promoted to interim head coach when Tim Beckman was fired a week before the opener.
A university-hired law firm investigated and confirmed many claims by former players that Beckman mistreated players' injuries and acted inappropriately on several occasions.
On Nov. 9, Illinois fired athletic director Mike Thomas, who had hired Beckman, and will pay him a $2.5 million buyout.
Cubit was head coach at Western Michigan from 2005 to 2012, assembling a 51-47 record and taking the Broncos to three bowl games.
sryan@tribpub.com
