Illinois AD Mike Thomas Fired: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction

The University of Illinois announced the removal of athletic director Mike Thomas on Monday after an investigation into allegations student-athletes were mistreated in the school's football and women's basketball programs.

“Mike Thomas has done a good job of leading through recent challenges,” Interim Chancellor Barbara Wilson said, per Jeremy Werner of Scout.com. “Decisions such as these are always difficult, but we have to focus on the best interests of our student-athletes. I believe this decision allows everyone to move forward.”

Thomas' tenure came under fire in recent months after allegations of student-athlete mistreatment, mostly centered on former football coach Tim Beckman. The school fired Beckman after an initial investigation found he forced players to continue playing through serious injuries. In its full report, Illinois said Beckman "pushed players and athletic trainers beyond reasonable limits in systematic fashion," according to Brian Hamilton of Sports Illustrated.

Hamilton provided more details from the Beckman-related findings:

Thomas took over as Illinois' athletic director in 2011. He has been fired "without cause," meaning the school will pay him for the duration of his contract and found no evidence of his wrongdoing. Paul Kowalczyk, who joined the program in 2012, has been named his interim replacement.

“I believe it is a good time to turn the page and put the focus of this organization back on the success and welfare of our student-athletes,” Thomas said.

Bruce Feldman of Fox Sports was not surprised by the decision:

Several women in the basketball program had also alleged mistreatment related to injuries, scholarships and racial discrimination. Investigators found that there were "limited instances" where coaches in the women's basketball program questioned how much an injury affected a student-athlete's ability to play, but they "did not inappropriately push student-athletes or pressure sports medicine staff to adjust their decisions." The report also concluded that coaches did not pressure student-athletes to give up their scholarships if they were not playing in games.

In a lawsuit, former players have accused head coach Matt Bollant of intentionally discriminating "against protected persons based upon the color of their skin." An earlier investigation into those allegations found no wrongdoing.

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