Aug. 30--When Bill Cubit was hired as Illinois' offensive coordinator for the 2013 season, charged with jolting to life a comatose offense, he told reporters he hoped it would be his last job.
Officially, that wish won't come true.
Cubit, 61, was named the interim head coach for this season Friday when athletic director Mike Thomas fired Tim Beckman. The dismissal came after preliminary findings of an investigation confirmed reports of Beckman mistreating players.
Cubit's enthusiasm for Illinois was as evident Friday as it was when he was introduced in Champaign.
"I love this place," he said at a news conference. "I really do. I love the people here. I love the student athletes. I love the fans. ... When you like something, it's OK to be passionate about it."
The Illini desperately need some positive support positivity and direction amid the turmoil as they prepare for the season opener Friday against Kent State at Memorial Stadium.
Cubit, who has 13 years experience as a head coach at Widener and Western Michigan, has helped bring Illinois to life before. He came aboard in Beckman's second season and the offense jumped at least 50 spots from 2012 to 2013 in several national rankings of offensive stats, including total offense, pass efficiency and scoring. Even with starting quarterback Wes Lunt injured much of last year, the Illini boasted one of the Big Ten's best passing games.
"He's like a father to most of us," Lunt said. "He's a really good football coach but he truly cares about his players. We're behind him because we believe in him."
At Western Michigan, he took over a program that went 1-10 in 2004 and led it to four winning seasons and three bowl game appearances in eight seasons. He was fired in 2012 with a 51-47 record and without a MAC West Division title.
But over the years he had built a reputation as an innovator and relentless competitor.
Cubit hasn't changed much, his friends said.
"I've seen how creative offensively he is and how he thinks outside the box," said Bill Zwaan, a Division II coach who played with Cubit at Delaware and worked as his defensive coordinator at Widener. "Being his roommate (in college), he would talk about how we could change a route or attack a defense. He always has been precise about what he wants to do."
Right now, that is coaching Illinois.
He said that he was not aware of the allegations or any wrongdoing while coaching alongside Beckman for the last two seasons. Cubit said he was ready to help move Illinois forward.
"The bottom line is you look at those players and give it everything you have," he said.
sryan@tribpub.com
