Cost of changing coaches: The going rate

Little did we know then that Day 2 of the Josh Whitman era would have Lovie Smith flying in from Florida to be introduced as Illinois’ new football coach, hours after Bill Cubit was fired.

So there’s reason to believe the Illini AD would aim high if he decided change was in order atop the basketball program.

The difference between now and the other times Illinois went looking for a new basketball coach? Schools outside the Power 5 conferences are prepared to pay big bucks to keep a rising coaching star from leaving.

“Where it’s making it harder for schools like an Illinois is the gap is closing in terms of the smaller schools,” said Darren Rovell, who covers the business side of sports for…