Ex-Illinois coach Tim Beckman no longer UNC volunteer assistant
Former Illinois head coach Tim Beckman will no longer serve as a volunteer assistant coach at North Carolina, he announced Thursday.
UNC officials announced Beckman would take the position on Wednesday, but Beckman told reporters he and the team had reversed course.
Beckman was fired from his job with the Fighting Illini last August after an investigation concluded that he had been mistreating players. After some backlash surrounding his new position, Beckman said he did not want to distract from the Tar Heels’ season with his involvement.
"I appreciate the opportunity Coach [Larry] Fedora gave me to stay connected to the sport and be around one of the best staffs in the country. His willingness to help a friend was a benefit both personally and professionally," Beckman said a statement released by the school. "I do not wish to be a further distraction to the team or University and I will no longer serve as a volunteer at UNC. I wish Larry and the program nothing but success going forward."
According to the findings of the investigation, Beckman attempted to “deter injury reporting” and “pressured players to avoid or postpone medical treatment and continue playing despite injuries.”
UNC head coach Larry Fedora, who previously worked with Beckman in 2007 at Oklahoma State, initially defended the hiring. Fedora said he was not worried about the perception of bringing Beckman into the program.
"If I wouldn't have been [comfortable], obviously I wouldn't have brought him," Fedora said. "I wouldn't allow him to be in our program, but I was very comfortable with it. I don't have any issues with it at all."
