Bill Cubit agrees to 2 year extension as Illinois Football head coach

It's official -- Bill Cubit has been extended as the head football coach at the University of Illinois. According to the school, Cubit will be paid a total of $2.4 million over the course of his new two-year deal; media reports have indicated that most of that figure is guaranteed money.

Here's the full press release:

CHAMPAIGN, ILL - The University of Illinois announced today Bill Cubit and the school have agreed to a two-year agreement making Cubit the Head Football Coach, pending approval by the U of I Board of Trustees.

"Bill has stepped in during an extremely difficult period and done an outstanding job in leading our football program since August," Interim Athletics Director Paul Kowalczyk said. "Our student-athletes have responded in a positive manner and we feel he is the best person at this time to be the head coach. We wanted to allow Bill to make decisions regarding the program as the head coach without the interim title, and lead the Fighting Illini into Saturday's game without speculation."

Cubit was named interim head coach on Aug. 28 and has led the Fighting Illini to a 5-6 record in 2015. Illinois needs a victory Saturday at Soldier Field to become bowl eligible. The extension will keep the length of his contract at two years and pay Cubit $1.2 million per year.

"During the past three months, Coach Cubit has led this team with a steady and experienced hand," Interim Chancellor Barbara Wilson said. "He has earned respect and appreciation from all of us. This move will allow the permanent Athletics Director to evaluate the program at his or her own schedule and make decisions based on those evaluations once that search is completed."

Cubit, who took over the team after former head coach Tim Beckman was fired, has guided the Fighting Illini to a 5-6 record this season. Cubit also previously coached at Western Michigan, where he went 51-47 and made three bowls (losing all three) with the Broncos before being fired in 2012.

Illinois will look to become bowl eligible on Saturday as they face off against No. 16 Northwestern at 2:30pm.