Just a day after news broke that former IL head coach Tim Beckman joined the staff at North Carolina, Beckman announced he was stepping down.
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After hiding in plain sight for all of training camp, Tim Beckman emerged on Wednesday as a volunteer assistant for the North Carolina football team. He can interact with players but cannot instruct them as a coach.
If the name Tim Beckman rings some bells in your brain, it’s because he was sacked just about a year ago as the head football coach at IL for pressuring players to play while injured and not reporting injuries to the proper authorities. He received a $250,000 settlement from IL that resolved all “potential legal claims” in April.
Larry Fedora and Mike Gundy coach together during the 2007 season.
FILE – In this December 26, 2014, file photo, former University of IL head coach Tim Beckman watches from the sidelines during an NCAA college football game in Dallas.
“We made the decision [Thursday] to part ways with Tim Beckman and thank him for his contributions in the short time he volunteered with our football program”. Fedora was questioned by reporters after practice Wednesday about Beckman’s presence. Last year, Beckman lost his job as the head football coach at IL after being accused of making his players compete even though they were injured.
But as word spread over night about Beckman working with the Tar Heels, multiple national and media reports came out critical of Fedora.
“If I wouldn’t have been, obviously I wouldn’t have brought him. I continue to put a great deal of trust in Director of Athletics Bubba Cunningham and Coach Fedora to educate and develop our student-athletes and to ensure we meet the high standards we all expect at Carolina”, Folt said.
“I promise you, I didn’t see anywhere where the NCAA said he should be banished from the game of football”, Fedora said.
Fedora had cleared Beckman’s position with UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham.
Adding to the intrigue, North Carolina plays at IL on September 10. Beckman was replaced at IL by interim coach Bill Cubit.
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The Tar Heels open the season September 3 against No. 18 Georgia in Atlanta.
