Illinois is expected to hire former NFL coach Lovie Smith as its new head coach, according to Fox Sports and Chicago media reports.
The Illini have an opening as of Saturday.
New Illinois athletics director Josh Whitman announced on his first day on the job that he had fired Bill Cubit, who served as interim coach in 2015 and signed a two-year deal in November.
Whitman was hired last month from the same role at Washington University in St. Louis.
“I appreciate the leadership that Bill Cubit provided our football program during what has been, unquestionably, a very tumultuous time,” Whitman said.