Tim Beckman has been dismissed as the University of Illinois’ head football coach, in connection with allegations involving the football program.
U of I Athletic Director Mike Thomas announced the dismissal Friday, citing preliminary results of an external review. The review was conducted by Franczek Radelet, a Chicago law firm hired to investigate allegations that Beckman and the football team's medical staff mistreated a former player and misled him about the extent of his injuries.
Former starting lineman Simon Cvijanovic complained first on Twitter on May 9 and in numerous interviews that Beckman and his staff had tried to shame him into playing hurt misled him about medical procedures following a knee injury.
Offensive coordinator Bill Cubit has been named interim head coach for the U of I’s 2015 football season. Thomas says the external review had no findings related to Cubit, and that his appointment would come before the university's Board of Trustees at their September 10 meeting.
In the words of a university news release: “During a preliminary briefing from the external reviewers, Thomas said he learned of efforts to deter injury reporting and influence medical decisions that pressured players to avoid or postpone medical treatment and continue playing despite injuries. He also said in some instances student-athletes were treated inappropriately with respect to whether they could remain on scholarship during the spring semester of their senior year if they weren’t on the team.
“ ’Both of those findings are unsettling violations of University policy and practice and do not reflect the culture that we wish to create in athletic programs for our young people,’ Thomas said. ‘I expect my coaches to protect players and foster their success on and off the field.’ ”
Thomas says the review of the football program continues, and a final report has yet to be issued.
Beckman's dismissal comes one week before Illinois' first game, against Kent State on September 4th at Memorial Stadium.
The university announced that Thomas would speak to the media at a 3 PM Central Time news conference.