Nov. 28--Illinois promoted Bill Cubit to a head coach, securing him with a two-year deal, the school announced Saturday hours before the team's regular season finale.
The hire is meant to bring some stability -- however short term -- to a program that has had a turbulent season.
Cubit, who has been operating this season on an interim basis, will be paid $1.2 million per season.
Interim chancellor Barbara Wilson credited Cubit for keeping the Illini from sinking despite the unusual circumstances in which he inherited the job.
"During the past three months, Coach Cubit has led this team with a steady and experienced hand," Wilson said in a statement. "He has earned respect and appreciation from all of us. This move will allow the permanent Athletics Director to evaluate the program at his or her own schedule and make decisions based on those evaluations once that search is completed."
The Illini will be searching for a new athletic director after Mike Thomas was fired on Nov. 9. Paul Koawalcyzk is working as the interim athletic director.
Cubit joined the Illinois staff as offensive coordinator in January 2013 before being named interim head coach in August, a week before the season began when coach Tim Beckman was fired. Cubit has a career head coaching record of 90-70-1, including a stint at Western Michigan where he went 51-46 and qualified for three bowl games from 2005-12.
The Illini (5-6, 2-5 Big Ten) are playing for bowl eligibility on Saturday against Northwestern at Soldier Field.
The Illinois athletic department has been plagued with uncertainty throughout the season.
Cubit has served as an interim head coach since the start of the season when Beckman was fired when a university-hired law firm's investigation found he had mistreated players' injuries and acted inappropriately. The situation became only murkier when athletic director Mike Thomas was fired on Nov. 9.
sryan@tribpub.com
