The University of Illinois fired head football coach Tim Beckman one week before the season.
Athletic director Mike Thomas announced the firing in a statement Friday, citing preliminary results of an external review into allegations that Beckman mistreated injured players.
“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,” Thomas said. “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.