Western Michigan University Athletics

Bill Cubit is entering his eighth season at the helm of the Western Michigan University football program in 2012.  Cubit has taken the Broncos to three postseason bowl games during his tenure, most recently the 2011 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl.

Cubit boasts a record of 47-39 with the Broncos and holds a 34-21 mark in the Mid-American Conference.  Cubit's win total from 2005-08 is the second most over that span in program history, second only to the 31 wins posted by the Broncos from 1997-2000.  Cubit was the offensive coordinator for two of those seasons as well.

The WMU football program has garnered 52 All-MAC selections, 18 Academic All-MAC selections, three Associated Press All-Americans and four Capital One Academic All-America selection under the leadership of Coach Cubit.

Western Michigan boasted its first Consensus All-American in Jordan White and the MAC Defensive Player of the Year in Drew Nowak in 2011 and broke records for points (459), touchdowns (58), PATs (57), pass attempts (554), completions (369), passing yards (4,385), total yards (5,960), offensive plays (945), first downs (320), passing first downs (204), kick returns (63), kick return yards (1,409) and total return yards (1,658).

The Bronco football program made history in 2010, becoming the first MAC team during the conference's existence to play at Notre Dame.  WMU ended the season on a great note, winning each of its final three games to close out the campaign bowl eligible for the third time in the last five seasons.  The Broncos also accomplished something for the first time at WMU.  For the first time in program history and for only the third time in the history of the Mid-American Conference, two wide receivers from the same team were named First Team All-MAC in the same year - Juan Nunez and White.  White also broke the record for receiving yards in a season (1,378) as both he and Nunez reached 1,000 yards receiving in 2010 (Nunez had 1,032).

Western Michigan faced three Big Ten teams in 2009, marking the first time that has taken place in program history.  WMU improved to 20-7 at Waldo Stadium (.741).  Under Cubit, quarterback Tim Hiller broke or matched every WMU career passing and total offense record.

The 2008 campaign was one to remember as Western Michigan captured nine wins for only the third time in program history and appeared in its fourth postseason bowl game, the second in three years under Cubit, when WMU played Rice in the 2008 Texas Bowl.  The Broncos offense ranked 28th in the country with a passing offense that ranked 11th. 

Western Michigan went undefeated in home games (6-0) for the 10th time in program history, going a perfect 5-0 at Waldo Stadium and winning a home game at Ford Field against Illinois.  It marked the second-straight season the Broncos defeated a Big Ten team and the third straight season with a win over a team from a BCS conference.  WMU also broke the single-season record for pass completions (326).

In 2007, the Cubit-led offense had its first 3,000-yard passer since 1999 and saw a running back eclipse the 2,000-yard career rushing mark for only the 11th time in program history.  Rated the 10th-toughest schedule among non-BCS schools, Western Michigan took on six bowl-eligible teams, including a pair of teams that finished the year ranked in the top six in the country (West Virginia and Missouri).  WMU captured its second win over a BCS school in as many seasons, defeating Iowa, 28-19, in Iowa City.

WMU captured its first bowl bid in 18 years (1988 California Bowl) when the Broncos faced the University of Cincinnati in the inaugural International Bowl on Jan. 6, 2007. The team led the nation in interceptions (22) and ranked sixth in the country in rush defense (71.92 ypg), holding the opposition under 10 net yards rushing four time last year. The program earned eight wins in 2006, marking only the fifth time in its history that feat had been accomplished and the Broncos went undefeated at Waldo Stadium for the first time since 2000.

Five former Broncos have made the step to the next level under Cubit’s reign. Jennings was the 52nd overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft, going to the Green Bay Packers. Nine picks later, Tony Scheffler was selected 61st over all by the Denver Broncos. One season later, Dominic Moran and Ismail were both invited to NFL mini-camps by the New York Jets and New Orleans Saints, respectively. His son, and former Bronco quarterback, Ryan Cubit signed a two-year contract with the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League in April of 2007.  Jennings and Scheffler remain in the NFL and have experienced great success through their first two seasons. 

Cubit officially became the 14th coach in program history on Dec. 4, 2004, as the Broncos embarked on their 100th season of varsity football in 2005. Cubit turned the program around in his first season, bringing the first winning campaign to Kalamazoo since 2000. The Broncos’ 7-4 overall record and 5-3 conference mark was the second largest one-year turnaround in the nation in 2005 and was the largest one-year turn around in Mid-American Conference history. In doing so, he was named the MAC Coach of the Year and was ranked fourth among Division I-A coaches in the first year with their program.

He brings 31 years of coaching experience, including 16 years as a head coach on the collegiate and high school level and seven years as an offensive coordinator at four NCAA Division I schools having worked the sidelines in five of the nation’s premiere conferences (Mid-American, Big East, Big 12, PAC-10 and Southeastern). Cubit returns to Western Michigan where he served as offensive coordinator from 1997-99.

Prior to returning to Kalamazoo in 2004, Cubit served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Stanford University. He coached the quarterbacks for two seasons (2003-04) and served as the Stanford offensive coordinator as well in 2004. In 2004, Cubit directed a Cardinal offense that ranked 28th in NCAA passing (247.3 yards per game). Prior to his stint in Palo Alto, Cubit served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Rutgers University (2001-02). He also worked as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach under Larry Smith at Missouri during the 2000 season.

In his first stint with the Broncos, Cubit oversaw an offense that ranked in the NCAA Top 25 for passing offense, scoring offense and total offense in back-to-back seasons. The Brown & Gold were the nation’s 20th-highest scoring team in 1998, averaging 32.7 points per game, and the nation’s 23rd-highest scoring squad in 1999, producing 31.1 points per game.

Cubit mentored quarterback Tim Lester, who finished fifth in NCAA career passing yards (11,299) and seventh in career touchdown passes (87). Under Cubit’s direction, WMU placed ninth in NCAA passing (310.4 yards per game) in 1998 and 11th in passing offense (311.8 yards per game) in 1999. The Broncos compiled a 22-12-0 record in Cubit’s three seasons with the program. Cubit’s head coaching experience includes five seasons (1992-96) at Division III Widener University in Philadelphia. He led the Pioneers to a 34-18-1 mark, two Middle American Conference championships and a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances. He was twice named conference coach of the year.

Other collegiate stops for Cubit include two years (1990-91) as running backs coach at the University of Akron, a season (1989) as quarterbacks coach at the University of Florida, three seasons as assistant head coach (1985) and the secondary coach (1983-85) at the University of Central Florida and two years (1975-76) coaching running backs and receivers at Swarthmore College. As a high school coach, Cubit compiled a nine-year record of 79-15-2 at three different programs — Martin County (Fla.), Academy Park (Pa.) and his alma mater, Sharon Hill.

A Sharon Hill, Pa., native, Cubit (59/DOB: 10-14-53) earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from the University of Delaware in 1975. He played quarterback and wide receiver for the Blue Hens (1971-74), earning Associated Press All-America Honorable Mention in 1974. He also set school records for catches in a game (10) and season (47), along with receiving yards in a season (787).

In 1981, he earned a master’s degree in education from Saint Joseph’s University. Bill and his wife Nancy have three grown children - Stacey, who was married on March 3, 2007, Sheri and Ryan, married on Feb. 9, 2008.  He also has two grandchildren.  Ryan joined the Bronco staff in 2008 as an offensive graduate assistant and now serves as the Broncos quarterbacks coach.

WMU ALL-CONFERENCE HONOREES UNDER CUBIT

WMU NFL DRAFT PICKS UNDER CUBIT