Former Eastern Illinois Coach Adam Cushing Sends Taunting Message to Athletic Director Tom Michael Amid Panthers’ Turmoil
The troubles at Eastern Illinois football took another unexpected turn when former head coach Adam Cushing, now the offensive line coach at Texas A&M, seemingly took a shot at EIU Athletic Director Tom Michael in a cryptic yet cutting message. As the Panthers program spirals into uncertainty following the departure of head coach Chris Wilkerson and starting quarterback Pierce Holley, Cushing’s message has only added fuel to the fire, sparking debate among fans and alumni.
Cushing, who led the Panthers from 2019 to 2021 before leaving for a position at Northwestern and later joining Texas A&M, was widely seen as a coach who inherited a struggling program but never got the time or resources to fully rebuild it. His exit was met with mixed reactions—some viewed it as an understandable move to a better opportunity, while others believed he abandoned the Panthers when they needed him most. Now, with the program in disarray, Cushing appears to be reveling in the chaos left behind.
Late Friday night, Cushing took to social media, posting a seemingly harmless tweet that many believe was aimed directly at Tom Michael. “Some places get what they deserve,” he wrote, followed by a thinking-face emoji and a picture of the Texas A&M offensive line celebrating after a big play. While he didn’t mention Eastern Illinois by name, the timing of the message—just hours after quarterback Pierce Holley announced his departure—left little doubt about its intended target.
The tweet immediately went viral among Eastern Illinois fans, with reactions split between those who saw it as a deserved jab at the athletic department and those who felt it was an unnecessary dig at a struggling program. Some former players and coaches even chimed in, hinting that Cushing may have lingering resentment toward how his tenure ended at EIU.
Cushing’s time at Eastern Illinois was rocky, as he took over a rebuilding project in 2019 following the departure of longtime head coach Kim Dameron. The team struggled under his leadership, going 3-26 in three seasons, but many believed he wasn’t given adequate resources to compete at the FCS level. When he left for a position at Northwestern in 2022, some saw it as a sign that he didn’t believe in the direction of the program under Tom Michael’s leadership.
Now, with Eastern Illinois in the midst of one of its worst crises in years, Cushing’s message seems to reinforce the idea that the program’s struggles go beyond just coaching. Fans have long criticized Michael’s handling of the football program, and with Wilkerson now gone under controversial circumstances, many are questioning whether the athletic director is the real problem.
Tom Michael has yet to respond to Cushing’s message, but sources within the athletic department say there is growing frustration with the public perception that EIU football is falling apart. Some insiders claim that Michael has been actively searching for a new coach, but the negative publicity surrounding the program is making it difficult to attract top candidates.
Meanwhile, Cushing has continued his career climb, now coaching at one of the top programs in the country at Texas A&M. While he hasn’t directly criticized his time at Eastern Illinois, his latest message suggests he still holds strong opinions about the state of the program he once led. Some speculate that he may have felt scapegoated for the team’s struggles, despite the lack of institutional support.
As the fallout from Wilkerson’s departure continues and more players consider entering the transfer portal, Cushing’s words serve as a painful reminder of Eastern Illinois’ recent missteps. Whether or not his message was meant to be taunting, it has certainly sparked discussion about the long-term issues within the program and whether changes need to be made at the administrative level.
For now, Eastern Illinois is left to pick up the pieces. With a coaching search underway and roster uncertainty looming, the pressure is on Tom Michael to prove that he can stabilize the program before it crumbles completely. But as Cushing’s message suggests, there are plenty of people watching from afar—some with sympathy, and others with a smirk.
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