It's one of the worst situation a program can be in less than a week before the season. Coach fired, interim elevated. Prospects uncertain.
That's Illinois right now. The only ray of sunlight is AD Mike Thomas having an entire season to find a new coach. That is, if Thomas himself survives.
On his watch the coach he hired (Tim Beckman) allegedly abused players. There is another investigation going on regarding the women's basketball program.
Yes, Illinois looks in disarray right now. Despite that, here is a list of candidates who could become the next full time coach in 2016.
P.J. Fleck, Western Michigan: If not the top candidate, Fleck certainly is the most interesting. The nation's youngest coach, 34, is also the MAC's highest-paid coach.
How high will Western Michigan AD Kathy Beauregard have to go now that Fleck became a trending topic Friday when Beckman was fired?
Fleck almost certainly has to be interested. He's from Chicago's western suburbs and coached at Northern Illinois. More important at the moment, his two children are with his former wife in St. Louis, three hours away from Champaign.
All that doesn't add up to a slam-dunk hire. Fleck has to keep the positive momentum going. The Broncos went from 1-11 to 8-5 in his second season.
Plus, Illlinois' facilities aren't the best and the instability with Thomas could sway Fleck's decision. Still, his unique coaching style ought to have a lot of ADs interested.
Ironically, Fleck replaced new Illinois interim coach Bill Cubit at Western Michigan.
Greg Schiano: The former Tampa Bay and Rutgers coach is beginning his second season out of football. He desperately wants to get back in the game.
If Michigan hadn’t been able to lure Jim Harbaugh, there were reports that Schiano was the top choice. Illinois isn’t Michigan, but it’s still a Big Ten job.
Schiano would have leverage. Most likely the administration would have to spend on facilities and provide a large assistants’ pool. Schiano could lure a talented staff.
Bill Cubit, former Illinois offensive coordinator, current interim head coach: There's a reason interims are interims. They are meant to be caretakers for the next guy.
While Cubit brings plenty of high-coaching experience (51-47 at Western Michigan), he's still attached to the old staff. You'd think Illinois would want to go completely new.
He's also one of the highest paid coordinators in the Big Ten. Cubit has said he wanted Illinois to be his last job. In 2013, his quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase led the Big Ten in passing.
Dino Babers, Bowling Green: The 54-year old has paid his dues.
A veteran of six Power Five conference programs as an assistant, Babers became a head coach relatively late. His Eastern Illinois teams in 2012 and 2013 went to the FCS playoffs each season.
Babers is one of the leading spread option coaches in the country leading the Falcons to the MAC championship game in his first season. Bowling Green led the MAC in plays per game and finished second in passing.
Beckman was a MAC coach. With two such coaches on this list, do the Illini want to head in that direction again?
