Illinois defensive coordinator Mike Cassity fired

<br>(Champaign, Illinois-AP) -- Illinois defensive coordinator Mike Cassity was fired today, less than two weeks after Illinois finished a 1-and-11 season. <br><br>Cassity, who coached at Oklahoma State,

Friday, December 5th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Champaign, Illinois-AP) -- Illinois defensive coordinator Mike Cassity was fired today, less than two weeks after Illinois finished a 1-and-11 season.

Cassity, who coached at Oklahoma State, becomes the fall guy for a defense that gave up an average of 427 yards per game, second worst in the Big Ten.

Illinois was last in the conference against the run, allowing almost five yards per carry and 223 yards per game.

It was Illinois' worst since 1997.

Cassity came to Illinois in 2001 after two seasons as defensive coordinator at Oklahoma State. His college coaching career began at Kentucky in 1979.