SB Nation had been told before the season began that Texas Tech coach Tommy Tuberville was looking to make 2012 his last season in Lubbock. He was hoping for a SEC job, and we reported earlier in the week that he was in touch with Tennessee before they hired Butch Jones. But did he want out badly enough to leave for the Big East?

Reportedly, yes:

Breaking: FootballScoop has learned that Tommy Tuberville will be the next head coach at Cincinnati FootballScoop.com/the-scoop

— FootballScoop Staff (@footballscoop) December 8, 2012

Breaking: I have learned that Tommy Tuberville has accepted the head coaching job at Cincinnati. CoachingSearch.com

— Pete Roussel (@coachingsearch) December 8, 2012

Tuberville is a former Ole Miss and Auburn coach who's been mostly successful at each of his three stops, compiling a 130-77 record overall with five SEC West titles and an undefeated season in 2004 at Auburn.

Nobody realized how badly Tuberville wanted out of Texas, apparently. SB Nation was told he was hoping to land a job back east, especially one closer to the southeast, and, well, Cincinnati's close to Kentucky?

Cincinnati lost Jones to Tennessee on Friday, the third straight time they've lost a successful coach to another gig.

This post first appeared on SB Nation.