Western Michigan University football coach Bill Cubit, center, walks off the field at Waldo Stadium following Saturday's season-ending 29-23 home loss to Eastern Michigan. Cubit was fired after the game. UPDATE:
KALAMAZOO, MI --
Western Michigan University has fired head football coach Bill Cubit.
The Broncos completed the 2012 season with a 4-8 record and school officials said after Saturday's season-ending 29-23 home loss to Eastern Michigan that Cubit was released from the remaining year of his contract.
"I want to thank Coach Cubit for his years of service and recognize the work he and all of his assistants have done over the years in support of our student-athletes," WMU athletic director Kathy Beauregard said in a statement. "I also want to thank Nancy and the entire Cubit family for what they have meant to this community."
Cubit's contract ran through the 2013 season. The 4-8 record this season was the worst mark in his tenure and is the worst mark for the program since a 1-10 campaign in 2004.
“Although this is a time of transition, the expectations of our department remain the same," Beauregard said. "Our vision and mission is winning division and conference titles and growing our number of postseason bowls. We continue to value student-athlete success academically and expect them to be great citizens in this community.”
Attempts to reach Cubit for comment were not immediately successful.
Cubit finished his tenure at Western Michigan with an overall record of 51-47. The Broncos were 36-27 in the Mid-American Conference.
Bill Cubit WMU made three bowl appearances in his tenure, including the International Bowl in 2006, the Texas Bowl in 2008 and the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl in 2011.
Saturday’s loss to Eastern Michigan put a cap on a disappointing season in which the Broncos were usually competitive but unable to close out many games. Western Michigan had a lead or was tied in the second half of every conference game, except the Toledo contest on Sept. 29, yet the Broncos won just two conference games and finished with a 2-6 record in the MAC.
WMU did not win consecutive games this season and did not defeat a team with a winning record. Connecticut was 2-1 before losing at WMU on Sept. 22. The Huskies are currently 4-6.
Notable wins during Cubit’s tenure included defeats of Iowa in 2007 and Illinois in 2008, and the Broncos nearly knocked off Florida State in 2006. But, the Broncos’ best finish in MAC play under Cubit was a second place finish in the West Division in 2007 and a tie for second place in the 2008 season.
CLICK HERE for complete WMU football coverage
Email David Drew at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/Drew_on_WMU