May 20--University of Illinois President Timothy Killeen said he won't "rush to judgment" while the school investigates accusations by some football and women's basketball players that they've been mistreated by their coaches, but he did vow to take a deeper look at the Illini's athletic programs.
"The thing that's most important is student health, well-being and nurturing an effective workplace environment for our students. That's what I stand for and that's what I'm going to insist upon," Killeen said Tuesday while he and other U. of I. administrators met with the Tribune's editorial board.
The school is reviewing a former football player's allegations of misconduct and physical mistreatment against coach Tim Beckman and the team's medical staff. Meanwhile, women's basketball coach Matt Bollant and associate coach Mike Divilbiss have been accused of mishandling injuries and making racist and other abusive remarks.
A compliance staff review concluded no NCAA violations took place.
Chancellor Phyllis Wise, who is heading up the inquiries, said both investigations are open-ended and that no time line has been targeted for the reports to be completed. Illinois has hired Chicago law firm Franczek Radelet to handle the football probe.
The initial review of the women's program, which has been handled internally and has included interviews with players and coaches, was completed about a week ago.
"In the women's basketball case we used the ODEA, the Office of Diversity (Equity and Access), because it was an issue that was first raised by parents of students who are African American," Wise said. "The health issues are being analyzed also there."
A university spokeswoman told the Tribune that the school has asked the same Chicago law firm investigating allegations made against the football team to also look into a claim of medical mistreatment by the family of a women's basketball player.
The rest of the investigation into claims against the basketball coaching staff was handled internally and will not be reopened.
Athletic director Mike Thomas told the Tribune that when he received letters from parents outlining claims of verbal and emotional abuse against players by coach Matt Bollant and assistant Mike Divilbiss he immediately asked the chancellor's office to handle an investigation without the athletic department's involvement.
He said he is confident that the university's reputation will remain strong in light of allegations.
"We have a tremendous culture here," he said. "We believe in integrity. We believe in doing things the right way."
In letters sent to Wise from the families of former players Jacqui Grant, Taylor Tuck and Taylor Gleason, the families allege that the team forced Gleason to play with a high ankle sprain and a broken toe -- she was later diagnosed with a broken foot -- and compelled Grant to play with an enlarged spleen while suffering from mononucleosis.
Killeen was asked whether he stands by the coaches of the football and basketball programs, but he declined to give them an endorsement while the investigation continues.
"I stand by the process of investigating allegations," he said. "The way it works, we have an athletic director, we have a chancellor and we have a president. And my job is to make sure it's working really well. And so Chancellor Wise informs me of what's going on, I inform the board, and it's a quality assurance thing. There are investigations underway ... so I think we need to get to the bottom of it. And we need to understand what it's like to be a student in athletic programs and we want to stand for the best possible program, most excellent program we can."
Killeen also said he won't step on Wise's and Thomas' role to address problems within the athletic department, but added that he is looking at whether the athletic programs need closer oversight.
"As incoming president, I will insist upon a full analysis of our overall (athletic) programs so that it's wholesome," he said. "These (accusations) may not be signatures of a deeper underlying problem but we're going to take a look at them."
