Illinois gives Cubit a raise, contract extension

Illinois has given offensive coordinator Bill Cubit a raise and extended his contract by a year.

Coach Tim Beckman said Wednesday that Cubit's salary will increase from $400,000 a year to $500,000. Cubit's contract will now run through January 2015.

Cubit said he's looking forward to bringing back a more experienced group of offensive linemen as well as a group of talented quarterbacks that include transfer Wes Lunt.

Illinois went 4-8 this season but the offense was improved under the first-year coordinator. The Illini averaged 426.7 yards a game, fifth best in the Big Ten. They averaged only 296.7 yards a game last year.

Cubit came to Illinois after he lost his head-coaching job at Western Michigan.