Former University of Illinois women’s basketball coach Matt Bollant will take the same job at Eastern Illinois University. The university in Charleston announced Friday that they were hiring Bollant to replace Debbie Black, who was let go last month after four seasons.
The Bandwagon crew goes full nerd for NCAA basketball, with much discussion regarding the coaching merry-go-round, PLUS bracket talk with ESPN analyst (and U of I alum) John Gasaway. Some professional soccer is thrown in for balance.
Matt Bollant has been fired as head women's basketball coach at Illinois after five seasons, compliing a record of 61-94, and 22-62 in the Big Ten Conference. The news comes three days after John Groce was fired as men's head basketball coach. "I am excited to embrace a future for Illinois Women's Basketball where we realize the program's full - and virtually unlimited - potential," said U of I Athletic Director Josh Whitman.
The University of Illinois says seven former women’s basketball players who claimed in a lawsuit over an alleged “racially hostile environment” will share a $375,000 settlement. Meanwhile, a $250,000 negotiated settlement has been announced for former football coach Tim Beckman, who was fired by the university last year over the handling of athletes’ injuries.
The University of Illinois wants a judge to toss out a lawsuit filed by seven former members of the women's basketball team who allege they were the victims of racial discrimination. The U of I argues that the sovereign immunity that prevents the state from being sued in federal court also covers the state university.
