Illini extend OC Bill Cubit through 2015 season

Illinois football coach Tim Beckman announced today that offensive coordinator Bill Cubit has agreed to a one-year contract extension that includes an increase in annual salary to $500,000 per year and keeps him on the Fighting Illini sideline through the 2015 season. The extension becomes official pending UI Board of Trustees approval.

"Bill Cubit proved to us why he is considered one of the top offensive coaches in the nation after our offense made dramatic improvement from 2012," Beckman said. ?His coaching and play-calling experience was a terrific addition to the program a year ago, and this assures continuity at a very critical position on the staff. Bill and his wife, Nancy, are an incredible couple who are very involved with our football family and the Champaign-Urbana community. I?m very happy that we were able to do this for Bill."

Cubit joined the Illinois staff in January and improved the total offense from 296.7 yards per game in 2012 to 426.7 yards per game in 2013. Under Cubit?s tutelage, senior quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase improved from an average of 136.1 passing yards a game to a Big Ten-leading 272.7 passing yards per game. In NCAA rankings, the Illini improved 95 places (from 120th to 25th) in first downs per game, 85 places in scrimmage plays of 20+ yards (from 122nd to 37th), 85 places in passing offense (from 107th to 22nd), 67 places in total offense (from 119th to 52nd), 64 places in passing efficient (from 102nd to 38th) and 58 spots in scoring offense (119th to 61st).

"I?m very excited to be able to continue what we began building this past season," Cubit said. "We?re looking forward to a lot of success next season. We have a very good core group of linemen, tight ends and running backs returning, and a talented and deep group of quarterbacks to start with. We?ll be looking for some wide receivers to emerge this spring and summer, but I certainly don?t expect a drop off in 2014."

— FightingIllini.com