Bubb out as AD

[leatherneckcountry]

I really thought someone would try putting something out at the 67 336 by pass after it was built a few years ago.

[may know]

I thought Bubb was the best AD Western’s had in awhile. He understood the school and area. Real bummer.

[NeckBone88]

I thought Bubb was the best AD Western’s had in awhile. He understood the school and area. Real bummer.

 

 Agreed.

[wiu712]

There has now been a complete change of leadership for Western Athletics.

The Vice President for Athletics (Clare Thompson) left in early 2025.  And now Paul Bubb leaves in June 2026.
 

[ST_Lawson]

I have no idea if this had anything to do with it, but we did finish last again in the OVC commisioner's cup this year.

For reference, here's where we finished in Commisioner's Cups as far back as I can find records for:

• 25-26 - Last in the OVC (full breakdown: https://ovcsports.com/sports/2025/10/31/202526CCup.aspx)
• 24-25 - Last in the OVC
• 23-24 - Last in the OVC, still playing football in the MVFC...last in the MVFC
• 22-23 - Last in the Summit League, last in the MVFC
• 21-22 -  Last in the Summit League, last in the MVFC
• 20-21 -  Last in the Summit League, 9th out of 10 in the MVFC
• 19-20 -  Last in the Summit League, last in the MVFC
• 18-19 -  Last in the Summit League, 5th out of 10 in the MVFC
• 17-18 - 6th out of 8 in the Summit League, 4th out of 10 in the MVFC
• 16-17 - 7th out of 9 in the Summit League
• 15-16 - 8th out of 9 in the Summit League
• 14-15 - 7th out of 9 in the Summit League
• 13-14 - 7th out of 8 in the Summit League
• 12-13 - 6th out of 9 in the Summit League
• 11-12 - Last in the Summit League
• 10-11 - 9th out of 10 in the Summit League (the 10th place team was Centenary, a tiny private school from Louisiana that would drop to D3 the next season)
• 09-10 - 7th out of 10 in the Summit League
• 08-09 - 5th out of 10 in the Summit League
• 07-08 - 2nd in the Summit League
• 06-07 - 2nd in the Summit League

So, it's been 8 years since we last avoided finishing last in the conference for the commissioner's cup, and it's been 17 years since we last avoided finishing in the bottom half.For football, 2017 (9 years ago this fall) was the last time we didn't have a losing record, although we've at least shown signs of some improvement the last couple of years. Otherwise, women's basketball has been pretty much the only bright spot. We have not been very good for quite a while, but I'm betting we were hoping on at least some overall improvement when we moved to the OVC.

EDIT - there is also the "Learfield Directors' Cup", which is the same type of thing, but for all schools in a division. There are 301 schools in the ranking list. We are tied with 30 other schools for 265th place, and there are technically only six schools that finished worse than us. Here's the full list: https://nacda.com/documents/2026/6/24/25.26DI_Final.pdf

[meganeck]

I have no idea if this had anything to do with it, but we did finish last again in the OVC commisioner's cup this year.

For reference, here's where we finished in Commisioner's Cups as far back as I can find records for:

• 25-26 - Last in the OVC (full breakdown: https://ovcsports.com/sports/2025/10/31/202526CCup.aspx)
• 24-25 - Last in the OVC
• 23-24 - Last in the OVC, still playing football in the MVFC...last in the MVFC
• 22-23 - Last in the Summit League, last in the MVFC
• 21-22 -  Last in the Summit League, last in the MVFC
• 20-21 -  Last in the Summit League, 9th out of 10 in the MVFC
• 19-20 -  Last in the Summit League, last in the MVFC
• 18-19 -  Last in the Summit League, 5th out of 10 in the MVFC
• 17-18 - 6th out of 8 in the Summit League, 4th out of 10 in the MVFC
• 16-17 - 7th out of 9 in the Summit League
• 15-16 - 8th out of 9 in the Summit League
• 14-15 - 7th out of 9 in the Summit League
• 13-14 - 7th out of 8 in the Summit League
• 12-13 - 6th out of 9 in the Summit League
• 11-12 - Last in the Summit League
• 10-11 - 9th out of 10 in the Summit League (the 10th place team was Centenary, a tiny private school from Louisiana that would drop to D3 the next season)
• 09-10 - 7th out of 10 in the Summit League
• 08-09 - 5th out of 10 in the Summit League
• 07-08 - 2nd in the Summit League
• 06-07 - 2nd in the Summit League

So, it's been 8 years since we last avoided finishing last in the conference for the commissioner's cup, and it's been 17 years since we last avoided finishing in the bottom half.For football, 2017 (9 years ago this fall) was the last time we didn't have a losing record, although we've at least shown signs of some improvement the last couple of years. Otherwise, women's basketball has been pretty much the only bright spot. We have not been very good for quite a while, but I'm betting we were hoping on at least some overall improvement when we moved to the OVC.

EDIT - there is also the "Learfield Directors' Cup", which is the same type of thing, but for all schools in a division. There are 301 schools in the ranking list. We are tied with 30 other schools for 265th place, and there are technically only six schools that finished worse than us. Here's the full list: https://nacda.com/documents/2026/6/24/25.26DI_Final.pdf

 

this has been a big disappointment for me, we aren't competitive in most sports even in the new conference. 
 

[ST_Lawson]

And just to be clear, I don't know that anyone else would have done any better given the (lack of) resources that we have available. I feel like Bubb was in a tough position and did the best he could with what he had, but ultimately, the AD is the one who has to answer for disappointing results across the majority of sports.

[wiu712]

Western Illinois University resolved an NCAA infractions case involving athlete certification errors.

The school self-reported that over 20 student-athletes competed while ineligible across multiple sports between 2021 and 2024 due to administrative and procedural breakdowns.

The negotiated resolution resulted in a Level II Mitigated violation with the following penalties: 
Three years of probation.
A $25,000 fine.
Vacation of team records in contests where ineligible athletes played.
No post-season bans, scholarship reductions, or recruiting restrictions.

The NCAA acknowledged the school's immediate acknowledgement of responsibility and cooperation. Western Illinois has since updated its compliance and training protocols to prevent future issues.
 
 
 
 

[ST_Lawson]

Western Illinois University resolved an NCAA infractions case involving athlete certification errors.

The school self-reported that over 20 student-athletes competed while ineligible across multiple sports between 2021 and 2024 due to administrative and procedural breakdowns.

The negotiated resolution resulted in a Level II Mitigated violation with the following penalties: 
Three years of probation.
A $25,000 fine.
Vacation of team records in contests where ineligible athletes played.
No post-season bans, scholarship reductions, or recruiting restrictions.

The NCAA acknowledged the school's immediate acknowledgement of responsibility and cooperation. Western Illinois has since updated its compliance and training protocols to prevent future issues.
  
 

Oh yeah, I completely forgot about that. So that could have had something to do with it too.

[leatherneckcountry]

Western Illinois University resolved an NCAA infractions case involving athlete certification errors.

The school self-reported that over 20 student-athletes competed while ineligible across multiple sports between 2021 and 2024 due to administrative and procedural breakdowns.

The negotiated resolution resulted in a Level II Mitigated violation with the following penalties: 
Three years of probation.
A $25,000 fine.
Vacation of team records in contests where ineligible athletes played.
No post-season bans, scholarship reductions, or recruiting restrictions.

The NCAA acknowledged the school's immediate acknowledgement of responsibility and cooperation. Western Illinois has since updated its compliance and training protocols to prevent future issues.
  

 

Oh yeah, I completely forgot about that. So that could have had something to do with it too.

 

Do we know what sports were effected by this and did any of those coaches get any repercussions.