Fletcher Posted February 4 Posted February 4 I know what the allegations are, but it's crazy he's been sidelined this long with no resolution in sight. The team is in the middle of their Big Ten schedule with conference championships a few weeks away. No way on earth would they treat a football or basketball coach this way - max. suspension for those guys is one or two games for major violations. This clothing thing is such a small deal and low dollar amount, it's hard to believe it's being taken so seriously.
jchapman Posted February 4 Posted February 4 23 minutes ago, Fletcher said: I know what the allegations are, but it's crazy he's been sidelined this long with no resolution in sight. The team is in the middle of their Big Ten schedule with conference championships a few weeks away. No way on earth would they treat a football or basketball coach this way - max. suspension for those guys is one or two games for major violations. This clothing thing is such a small deal and low dollar amount, it's hard to believe it's being taken so seriously. If he purchased non-Nike gear from an unrelated vendor, you probably have a point. It became much more serious when he used his wife's company. Craig Henning got screwed in the 2007 NCAA Finals.
Mr. PeanutButter Posted February 4 Posted February 4 I believe there are rumors that this wasn't his first infraction either so that muddies things further
Fletcher Posted February 4 Author Posted February 4 Might be time for Poeta's dad to make them an offer...
Chief_Illiniwek Posted February 4 Posted February 4 From what I’m hearing, he might be out — and I really hope that’s wrong.Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
PNWfan Posted February 4 Posted February 4 He will probably be fired at some point soon. Maybe they will wait until after the season to make the announcement official. PNWfan
Fletcher Posted February 4 Author Posted February 4 2 hours ago, Chief_Illiniwek said: From what I’m hearing, he might be out — and I really hope that’s wrong. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Sounds like an awfully harsh outcome for a transgression that's likely negligible dollar amounts in the grand scheme of Illinois' athletic budget. But the fact he's been out for so long without a peep from the school has me concerned you're right.
mr.nonothingatall Posted February 4 Posted February 4 1 hour ago, Fletcher said: Sounds like an awfully harsh outcome for a transgression that's likely negligible dollar amounts in the grand scheme of Illinois' athletic budget. But the fact he's been out for so long without a peep from the school has me concerned you're right. Agreed it's definitely getting a little more concerning every week that passed. I would think it has to be more than just a conflict of interest or faulty budgeting. He has to be one of there best coaches by winning percentage other than Mark j Full of un-bias blasphemy.
Simpleman424 Posted February 4 Posted February 4 4 hours ago, Mr. PeanutButter said: I believe there are rumors that this wasn't his first infraction either so that muddies things further This is what I have heard as well…as in multiple incidents even. They’re probably discussing how they’re closing out his contract to avoid drawn out proceedings or anything post firing. Less public this way and when it’s done it’s done, everyone just go their separate ways. My guess anyway…
feet2back Posted February 4 Posted February 4 he has no chance of returning...Illinois just waiting to announce
The Kid Posted February 5 Posted February 5 (edited) 57 minutes ago, Simpleman424 said: This is what I have heard as well…as in multiple incidents even. They’re probably discussing how they’re closing out his contract to avoid drawn out proceedings or anything post firing. Less public this way and when it’s done it’s done, everyone just go their separate ways. My guess anyway… You live and you learn. Tough way to lose a dream job. Edited February 5 by The Kid
Greenwave Posted February 5 Posted February 5 Who do we think is the next Illinois Head Coach? Also, it looks like they have signed 8 wrestlers 1 from IA and the rest from Illinois, will any of them leave with the coaching uncertainty?
No BS Fan Posted February 5 Posted February 5 Jeremy Hunter would be the safe bet. I think we can rule out IMORE.
jchapman Posted February 5 Posted February 5 17 hours ago, Fletcher said: Sounds like an awfully harsh outcome for a transgression that's likely negligible dollar amounts in the grand scheme of Illinois' athletic budget. But the fact he's been out for so long without a peep from the school has me concerned you're right. If he used the public's money to purchase from his wife's company while there was an exclusive contract with Nike in place... that may rise past an institutional infraction. Craig Henning got screwed in the 2007 NCAA Finals.
Greenwave Posted February 5 Posted February 5 Hunter would be a safe bet native of Illinois and wrestled for them. He has been on the Illinois staff since I believe 2001 coaching with Heff also. I wonder if he was considered for the head job before Poeta?
ionel Posted February 5 Posted February 5 1 minute ago, Greenwave said: Hunter would be a safe bet native of Illinois and wrestled for them. He has been on the Illinois staff since I believe 2001 coaching with Heff also. I wonder if he was considered for the head job before Poeta? Hunter is from PA wrestled at Penn St and NC for them. A very good guy and coach. .
Fletcher Posted February 5 Author Posted February 5 3 hours ago, Greenwave said: Who do we think is the next Illinois Head Coach? Also, it looks like they have signed 8 wrestlers 1 from IA and the rest from Illinois, will any of them leave with the coaching uncertainty? Lucas Byrd's old enough to be a player-coach. Kinda like Paul Neuman in Slapshot.
Formally140 Posted February 5 Posted February 5 3 hours ago, Greenwave said: Who do we think is the next Illinois Head Coach? Also, it looks like they have signed 8 wrestlers 1 from IA and the rest from Illinois, will any of them leave with the coaching uncertainty? Based on who most of the recruits are. I think it'll depend on if Medlin stays. I'm sure at sectionals someone will be spilling the real story next week
pcostilow Posted February 5 Posted February 5 2 hours ago, jchapman said: If he used the public's money to purchase from his wife's company while there was an exclusive contract with Nike in place... that may rise past an institutional infraction. Pure speculation from my few years auditing governmental entities, this would likely fall into a non-compliance issue with governmental purchasing policy. Regardless of the dollar amount, this can carry a pretty negative perception. If the dollar amount exceeds certain thresholds, it has to be disclosed in the financial statements, etc. It may seem small, but actually getting caught for this stuff is rare from my experience, it may just be that our perception ends up being that he was treated harshly/unfairly, but if what I have read here is true, it could be toeing the like against legitimate governmental reporting and compliance issues.
fishbane Posted February 5 Posted February 5 21 hours ago, Fletcher said: Sounds like an awfully harsh outcome for a transgression that's likely negligible dollar amounts in the grand scheme of Illinois' athletic budget. But the fact he's been out for so long without a peep from the school has me concerned you're right. The amount he spent on gear from his wife's company is small $$, but the exclusive contract with Nike that it potentially violated is huge $$.
Gene Mills Fan Posted February 5 Posted February 5 Thanks, Fish now I get it. Tough playing football with no shoes.
CHROMEBIRD Posted February 6 Posted February 6 On 2/5/2026 at 9:51 AM, pcostilow said: Pure speculation from my few years auditing governmental entities, this would likely fall into a non-compliance issue with governmental purchasing policy. Regardless of the dollar amount, this can carry a pretty negative perception. If the dollar amount exceeds certain thresholds, it has to be disclosed in the financial statements, etc. It may seem small, but actually getting caught for this stuff is rare from my experience, it may just be that our perception ends up being that he was treated harshly/unfairly, but if what I have read here is true, it could be toeing the like against legitimate governmental reporting and compliance issues. Illinois' contract with Nike expires in June, so this incident (small as it may be) might cause a little bit of a headache for the AD as they renegotiate their deal. We don't know if the infraction was caught or reported by Nike or internally by compliance, so the school could also be exposed to financial penalties or other repercussions for violating the contract. Hopefully Nike doesn't care because it's wrestling, but a lot of us remember a time when we could get by with wearing Asics/Dan Gables at Nike schools (even under all-sports contracts)... until we couldn't.
Nightcrawler Posted February 8 Posted February 8 On 2/5/2026 at 7:48 AM, No BS Fan said: Jeremy Hunter would be the safe bet. I think we can rule out IMORE. Agree with the latter, mixed on the former. Hunter is a fantastic coach, but there’s a difference between a top-tier assistant and the public 'face' of a program. He’s just naturally reserved; I mean he's been there for 20 years as a lead-by-example guy. But in an era where recruiting and NIL require a constant public presence, his style might be too quiet for the top job. He’s an essential asset in the room, but he just isn’t a frontman to me.
Nightcrawler Posted February 9 Posted February 9 Also, just gonna put this into the universe here: I cannot say I truly believe he would accept, but if Illinois is hiring this offseason, the first call seems really obvious to me: Jimmy Kennedy. Yeah, he is helping to build a monster at Oklahoma State. But the jump from "Associate Head Coach" to Big Ten Head Coach at your Alma Mater is the standard dream scenario career progression. He has helped Taylor stabilize Oklahoma State for two seasons. He could leave now with his head held high, saying "mission accomplished," to take what many would assume would be his dream job. llinois can offer him full autonomy. At Oklahoma State, he will always be David Taylor's Number 2. At Illinois, he would be King.
Jackson Lininger Northern York, Pennsylvania Class of 2027 Committed to Slippery Rock Projected Weight: 149
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