[2] He was in Wisconsin for nine years from 1922 to 1930, although he was only able to coach for five seasons due to attacks of Malta fever.

At Wisconsin–Superior, Tubbs served as both athletic director and a coach of football and hockey.

In both seasons, his Hurricane teams bowed out as potential hosts for New Year's Day bowl games.

Tubbs was then hired as the 14th head football coach at the University of Iowa.

Some of the players Tubbs coached included Nile Kinnick, an all-Big Ten Conference selection in 1937, and Erwin Prasse, an all-conference end in 1938.