Illinois Assistant Mike Bellamy Suspended 1 Game for Improperly Helping Recruit

Illinois Fighting Illini receivers coach Mike Bellamy has been suspended one game for a violation of NCAA rules related to helping a student-athlete receive an associate degree.

Bellamy will serve his suspension during Illinois' season-opening game against Kent State, per an Associated Press report (h/t Fox Sports).

"It was disappointing to learn the NCAA chose to classify this as a violation," Fighting Illini head coach Tim Beckman said.

The NCAA ruled Bellamy committed a violation by helping an unnamed student-athlete complete his associate degree after the school uncovered he had not done so. A report from Sean Hammond of The Daily Illini indicates Bellamy visited the college and convinced administrators to allow the student-athlete to complete a placement exam in exchange for his missed credits.

Bradley Leeb/Associated Press

The player, who had withdrawn from the university, completed the exam and was awarded his associate degree. He has since re-enrolled at Illinois, but the university cited a privacy policy in not disclosing the student-athlete's name.

"I want to be very clear that no member of the University of Illinois football staff may be involved with arranging academic credits, questioning or influencing grades or otherwise intervening in the academic affairs of prospective student-athletes," Illinois athletic director Mike Thomas said in a letter to Beckman and Bellamy.

Bellamy, who played five NFL seasons after starring at Illinois as a receiver, has been the team's receivers coach since 2012. He is expected to return to his position for the Fighting Illini's Sept. 12 game against Western Illinois. The NCAA has not said whether it plans any further action.

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