![Interim Urbana Chancellor Barbara Wilson announces that Athletic Director Mike Thomas has been fired.](https://will.illinois.edu/images/uploads/37977/news20151109thomasfired_wilson__medium.jpg)
U of I Athletic Director Mike Thomas Fired
The University of Illinois has fired Athletic Director Mike Thomas. Barbara Wilson, the Interim Chancellor on the Urbana campus, said in a Monday morning news conference that a change in leadership was necessary. She said that "distractions" led to the decision after a law firm's findings brought on the firing of former football coach Tim Beckman at the start of the season.