Illinois Fires Athletic Director After Allegations by Athletes

(Reuters) - The University of Illinois fired athletic director Mike Thomas following the release on Monday of a report that detailed the mistreatment of players by former football coach Tim Beckman.

Interim Chancellor Barbara Wilson said while the report found no wrongdoing by Thomas, she believed that a "change in leadership" was necessary and it was "time for us to move forward."

"(Thomas) has done a good job of leading (the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics) through recent challenges," she told a news conference at the Champagne, Illinois school. "And he is the one who actually requested the outside investigations.

"However it's time to put the distractions of these past months behind…