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Lovie Smith out at Illinois
Josh had every reasonable expectation that Lovie could win here, including the endorsement of his own former coach here at Illinois, who was Lovie's OC.
On paper, Lovie was a home run. Are you saying Cubit should have been retained? Or leaving the position vacant for two more weeks while Josh did due diligence on Lovie Smith would have changed the result? Or would it have led Josh to hire Saban instead?
Josh took decisive action in an incredibly small window of time with what should have been a winning move. Lovie has failed us, unfortunately.
Remember, Beckman was 6-6 his final year and Cubit was 5-7 before we hired Lovie
Am I the only one thinking "what speculation?"
-Who did you already sign to a contract.
-JW himself will be the next head coach
- We got Urban Meyer and that is why Hermann is staying
- Underwood will be adding FB coach to his title and Kofi is playing tight end? Scratch that, he can't catch anything.
At least this time he has announced that they are going to do a national search. If he has another 'home run' candidate lined up should he just forego that? Is Dan Quinn available? He did a 'formal' search in women's basketball that resulted in hiring an old buddy who was the national division lll coach of the year and a hall of famer. Like Lovie, Josh probably considered her a home run hire even though, like Lovie, she had little relevant experience. Her results have been worse than Lovie's. A formal search is simply window dressing if you've already decided who you are going to hire.
He also did a formal search in men's basketball that resulted in landing a coach who did have relevant experience. That coach seems to be working out better than the other two at this point. If, it too, was a faux search I'm not aware of it.
The point is that a real formal search is intended to surface the most qualified candidate available. It doesn't always result in a winner but it has a better chance for success than simply ignoring the process. Perhaps an established AD with an extended network of contacts in the field can land a good candidate through the old boy network but it is less likely to work with a neophyte in his first week on the job.
Remember when Lovie got an "extension", but his contract got restructured allowing for an easier buyout? That was when JW started with this decision.
I fully expect him to have a coach ready to sign almost immediately.
Beckman didn’t get fired for his record.
Illinir1
- Camdenton, MO
What does it say about the integrity of Miles and Lovie Smith that Miles will not be coaching in the Penn State game? Miles not coaching because his Dad got fired. Lovie allowing him to quit. Which other coaches on the staff aren't coaching the Penn State game because their jobs are likely done after the season? It's one game Miles Smith....you could/should have taken the high road.
Lovie's relative performance looks even worse if you focus on record against the West Division. (For, example, Illinois faced tOSU every year 2012-2015 and didn't play Rutgers at all. Meanwhile Lovie's team faced Ohio State only once and Rutgers all 5 years.) In addition to providing a uniform baseline, the West rivals are the teams Illinois has to beat to reach a BigTen championship game and are also major recruiting rivals.
2014 2-4
2015 2-4
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2016 0-6
2017 0-6
2018 1-5
2019 2-4
2020 1-5
2014-2015 4-8
2016-2020 4-26
At the time of his hire I thought we had hit a home run. What an epic disappointment. It's one thing if you try but are in over your head, that's excusable. Lovie knew what it took to be successful, he has the skill set to do it, but he chose not to. That is not excusable
Illinir1
- Camdenton, MO
It should be clear to any potential Head Coach candidate that Josh Whitman will give them adequate time to show improvements. He gave Lovie five years with his abysmal record and no evidence of recruiting improvement. So glad that JW made the right decision now.
Maybe it was not Miles choice. Maybe Josh made that decision.
The way JW answered that question during the presser, it sounded like a decision was made.
Illinir1
- Camdenton, MO
Have to admit I hadn't thought of that and I could see that being the case. Apologies to Miles and Lovie if that was the situation.
Miles Smith has no business coaching college football. There's also the chance he didn't have an option of staying for the last game. (also, losing his toxic personality is a great first step in the right direction for Illinois Football)
RedRocksIllini
- Morrison, CO
If it's any comfort, we were only paying him $315 #*@{-ing thousand a year.
I would imagine Miles isn't coaching because that was Whitman's choice.
I think you're wildly overconfident in your ability to pick winning coaches, or that you could get them here to Illinois. You also appear eager to completely ignore the reality on the ground when JW was hired; spring football was already beginning, and the only way to participate was with an immediate hire.
You talk platitudes that fail the reality test. We all know that in theory if you do everything right nothing will go wrong, but in reality, that theory doesn't implement. But maybe Josh can benefit from your wisdom; can you give me three names who fit this description and can be lured to Illinois, "a coach who will win a lot of games, with integrity, over a long period of time."
Hadn't heard anything about his personality/demeanor. What was going on with that?
His arrogance played out in how horrible he treated others. He saved some of his best venom for Lovie's assistant, when he didn't get what he wanted. (words that would make a sailor blush) Miles is THE example why nepotism fails. When a spoiled person feels untouchable, watch out.
Precisely the reason why you do 'due diligence'.
Very disappointing to hear that, what a jerk. I don’t care who you are – there is no reason to treat others with anything but respect
Why hasn't he been hired yet?