The University of Illinois has fired its football coach Tim Beckman. In spite of Illinois’ appearance in The Heart of Dallas Bowl last season, Beckman was increasingly on the hot seat in Champaign. His teams posted an overall record of 12-25 and a Big Ten conference record of 4-20 since 2012. More damaging were recent allegations of Beckman’s apparent malpractice in his approach to player injuries.
This spring former Illini offensive lineman Simon Cvijanovic accused the coach of mistreating players. Cvijanovic tweeted allegations that Beckman forced him to play and practice through injuries and essentially bullied him off the team. Later Cvijanovic expanded on his accusations to the Chicago Tribune.
Cvijanovic said Beckman routinely overruled doctors’ orders to return players to the field and ridiculed injured players who were unable to play. He and his father said Beckman and offensive line coach Tom Brattan told them pain from knee and shoulder injuries were “in my head.”
After a second player made similar accusations the U of I’s Chancellor’s office announced that they would conduct an internal investigation that would specifically exclude Athletic Director Mike Thomas from the process. Thomas pledged his support to the investigation and reaffirmed his commitment to Beckman.
Soon after the National College Players Association sent a letter to Chancellor Phyllis Wise stating that Thomas has “compromised the integrity of his review by making conclusions before he collected any evidence” and that any findings of abuse should result in the termination of Beckman’s contract. A little more than three months later the preliminary findings of the report were released and Beckman was immediately fired.
“The preliminary information external reviewers shared with me does not reflect our values or our commitment to the welfare of our student-athletes, and I’ve chosen to act accordingly,” athletic director Mike Thomas said in a statement. “During the review, we have asked people not to rush to judgment, but I now have enough information to make this decision in assessing the status and direction of the football program.”
Beckman’s firing is the latest in a wake of disastrous news for the Illinois athletic department. Soon after Beckman came under attack the Illinois women’s basketball program was sued for a pattern of rampant racism. AD Mike Thomas is increasingly under siege as the university is paying multiple salaries in its highest revenue generating sports. As of 2012 Thomas gave ex-football coach Ron Zook $2.6 million to leave. Then Thomas wrote a check for $620,000 to rid himself of women’s basketball coach Jolette Law. In March of 2012, Thomas surprised nobody buying out men’s basketball coach Bruce Weber’s deal for $3.9 million. Thomas replaced Zook with the newly departed Beckman, and his replacement for Law is being sued.
The University of Illinois has been roiled by the resignations of its chancellor and its provost in recent weeks, and the athletic department’s debacles are emblematic of an administration in deep disarray. The university, let alone the athletic department, faces a serious identity crisis. Beckman’s firing, and the imminent firing of AD Mike Thomas, leaves Illini football at its lowest point in generations. Beckman was always facing the daunting task of winning at Illinois, but the accusations of player negligence set the program behind for years to come.
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