Much like the University of Illinois job is Shaka Smart’s gig to accept or turn down, the Southern Illinois head coaching job is Bruce Weber’s to turn down, according to The Southern.
Weber led the Salukis to two NCAA Tournaments from 1998-2003 before moving on to the Illini, where he coached until he was fired on the second day of the Big Ten Tournament. Weber won 103 games at SIU and has received an offer to return to the school.
This would make for an interesting coincidence in former Illini head coaches. Ron Turner led the college football team from 1997-2003. His gigs both before and after Champaign? Offensive coordinator of the Chicago Bears. If Weber goes back to where he was before, it would be the same situation.
The Salukis have already interviewed a few candidates for the job, and Wisconsin associate head coach Greg Gard is considered a leading candidate should Weber decline the offer. It all comes down to how much Weber wants to earn two paychecks next year; his buyout from Illinois means he’ll make about $4 million more from the school without doing a thing.
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