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Thomas is fired as Athletic Director at the University of Illinois

Illinois fired athletic director Mike Thomas
today as it released the final report from its investigation
into mistreatment of football and women's basketball players.

The report found no wrongdoing by Thomas, according to interim
Chancellor Barbara Wilson. She praised Thomas for dealing with the
string of allegations that have erupted since May. But she said a
change was needed.

''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,'' Wilson said in a
prepared statement ahead of a news conference later today.

It wasn't immediately clear if Thomas had reached a settlement with
the university. His annual pay was $568,178, according to
university records. Thomas said in the release that he believes he
acted appropriately but accepts the decision.

''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.

Allegations of mistreatment by former football player Simon
Cvijanovic surfaced in May, and the report found that former
football coach Tim Beckman ''employed tactics that violated
standards related to sports medicine protocols and scholarships.''
Beckman was fired in August.

The report also found that accusations by seven former women's
basketball players that coach Matt Bollant and an assistant created
a racially abusive environment were unfounded. The assistant, Mike
Divilbiss, quit after the accusations. The players have sued the
school, Bollant and Thomas; a former women's soccer player used the
school, claiming she improperly cleared to play after a concussion.

Amid all of that, Thomas also lost one of his primary champions on
campus, Chancellor Phyllis Wise. She resigned in August just before
the university revealed she used a private email account to avoid
scrutiny of her discussions of university business. Wilson replaced
Wise.

Thomas came to Illinois from Cincinnati in 2011, replacing longtime
athletic director Ron Guenther.

He walked onto campus at Illinois knowing that coaches in three
major sports were on the hot seat. In a matter of months, he fired
football coach Ron Zook, men's basketball coach Bruce Weber and
women's basketball coach Jolette Law.

Some Illini fans had complained Guenther was too loyal to coaches
he hired and, after being hired to clean up sports at Illinois
after a scandal, was too conservative. But many of those fans never
seemed to take to Thomas, either. Calls for his ouster from some
fans started before he'd even been at Illinois a year, after he
hired Beckman, men's basketball coach John Groce and Bollant.

Thomas is also just a year and a half removed from a contract
extension and a raise. University trustees unanimously approved the
deal and he was praised for the $60 million generated when the
university sold the naming rights to the Assembly Hall arena to
State Farm help pay for its $165 million renovation.

The project to refurbish the State Farm Center is due to be
completed in December.

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