U of Illinois confirms Whitman is its new athletic director
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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) The University of Illinois has confirmed reports that Josh Whitman will be its new athletic director.
In a statement Wednesday interim Chancellor Barbara Wilson praised the leadership and accomplishments of the 37-year-old Whitman.
Whitman called the job a dream come true.
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Whitman has been the athletic director at Division III Washington University in St. Louis. He played football at Illinois from 1997-2000 and worked for several years in the department he will now run.
He takes over for Mike Thomas, who was fired in November after a series of problems in the football and women's basketball programs.
Thomas fired football coach Tim Beckman for allegedly interfering in player medical decisions.
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Seven former women's basketball players have accused coach Matt Bollant of creating a racially hostile atmosphere in a lawsuit.