Bubb out as AD

[wiu712]

24 students who participated in 12 sports were permitted to compete in 349 contests while ineligible.
 
 

[may know]

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 list coincides almost perfectly with the health of WIU over time. Which is why I’m no longer holding how teams perform against ADs. How I judge ADs now is by how well they understand/are engaged with Western and how well they understand/are engaged with the area. Keeping fans/alumni engaged with WIU is really going to be the most important thing moving forward given how bleak enrollment and funding are. ADs can’t control those depressing external factors, but they can control holding onto what fans we already have. 

And that’s what I really liked about Bubb. He had his pulse on WIU alums and the area. 

[meganeck]

Anybody hearing about the timeline for getting a new Ad hired, we usually hear about the finalists and have not heard anything about anything.

[ST_Lawson]

Anybody hearing about the timeline for getting a new Ad hired, we usually hear about the finalists and have not heard anything about anything.

 

I believe I heard that they were not in a rush to hire someone right away, so idk where they are in the process, or even if they've really started the process at all yet beyond naming the interim AD.

[meganeck]

Anybody hearing about the timeline for getting a new Ad hired, we usually hear about the finalists and have not heard anything about anything.


 

I believe I heard that they were not in a rush to hire someone right away, so idk where they are in the process, or even if they've really started the process at all yet beyond naming the interim AD.

 

thanks Scott, I don't like it but I guess I understand it. She did make the softball hire, which on the outside looks like a decent hire. Nothing against the Interim AD, but I'm just afraid they will name her the permanent AD.

[jtrinaldi]

Anybody hearing about the timeline for getting a new Ad hired, we usually hear about the finalists and have not heard anything about anything.



 

I believe I heard that they were not in a rush to hire someone right away, so idk where they are in the process, or even if they've really started the process at all yet beyond naming the interim AD.


 

thanks Scott, I don't like it but I guess I understand it. She did make the softball hire, which on the outside looks like a decent hire. Nothing against the Interim AD, but I'm just afraid they will name her the permanent AD.

 

Kind of assuming the athletic director will be an internal hire given the low salary, half of what Illinois State University is paying their athletic director 

[rocki]

I believe I heard that they were not in a rush to hire someone right away, so idk where they are in the process, or even if they've really started the process at all yet beyond naming the interim AD.



 

thanks Scott, I don't like it but I guess I understand it. She did make the softball hire, which on the outside looks like a decent hire. Nothing against the Interim AD, but I'm just afraid they will name her the permanent AD.


 

Kind of assuming the athletic director will be an internal hire given the low salary, half of what Illinois State University is paying their athletic director 

 

Sad, considering what an uphill climb the AD is facing. We need a real "salesperson" to get interest back in Leatherneck sports backers.
 

[jtrinaldi]

thanks Scott, I don't like it but I guess I understand it. She did make the softball hire, which on the outside looks like a decent hire. Nothing against the Interim AD, but I'm just afraid they will name her the permanent AD.



 

Kind of assuming the athletic director will be an internal hire given the low salary, half of what Illinois State University is paying their athletic director 


 

Sad, considering what an uphill climb the AD is facing. We need a real "salesperson" to get interest back in Leatherneck sports backers.
 

 

Yep. Writing's been on the wall since Tanney departed, the last AD that made an impact
 

[ST_Lawson]

Sounds like the plan is to get together a local search committee early this fall, then work with a search company starting mid-fall. Actual search will start early spring with the goal to announce a new AD mid to late spring 2027.
 

[Necks2003]

Unfortunately these consulting search committees are going to cost several hundreds of thousands of $$$. IMO there are plenty of intelligent folks internally that can post the same job openings and review potential qualified candidates. It's not rocket science to find someone that will have the potential desire and pedigree for this position. Ultimately, hopefully we get someone that is capable and has the same goals and objectives we all hope for within the position. Why not take the $250-$500k and start building an updated football enhancement. It would serve as something meaningful a new AD could jump on and hopefully get some support to accomplish a much needed project in the near-ish term. Like others have previously mentioned, that is a safety hazard that will eventually lead to a bad outcome financially and objectively if someone were to be injured due to the lack of safety surrounding something that needed an upgrade 15-20 years ago.