Illinois AD: Tim Beckman will return as football coach

Tim Beckman is 1-15 in Big Ten conference play since taking over at U of I. (Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

University of Illinois athletic director Mike Thomas says head football coach Tim Beckman will keep his job.

Matt Wettersten of Champaign's WCIA-TV reports that Beckman will remain the coach despite a career 6-18 record with only one Big Ten win in his two seasons as coach. Thomas said he was happy with Beckman's progress with the players off the field, although he expects more wins in the future:

"I think you have to give Tim and his staff high marks for what they're doing off the field, but what you do off the field and winning football games aren't mutually exclusive"

Thomas added that he was "confident that Tim can get us where we want to go."

Beckman took the Illini program over from coach Ron Zook in 2012 after three years as head coach of the Toledo Rockets,where he had a record of 21-16.