Illinois Assistant Women's Basketball Coach Leaves Amid Player Concerns
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — As the University of Illinois continues to deal with accusations that members of its Illinois football staff mistreated a player, the school said Monday it has also looked into concerns raised by parents of women's basketball players that preceded the departure of an assistant coach.
Spokeswoman Robin Kaler said Monday that associate head coach Mike Divilbiss and the university "had agreed to part ways."
The university looked into allegations in April made by three unidentified players' parents and found no violations of laws, NCAA rules or university policies, Kaler said. Those allegations included unspecified concerns about one player's medical treatment.
"The inquiry process included the review of numerous documents, information related to current and past seasons, and interviews of more than 20 individuals currently or formerly affiliated with the Women's Basketball program," she said in a statement. "As reported, one player has raised concerns related to medical treatment she received. The University continues to evaluate these concerns."
The identities of the players weren'treleased, but according to The Daily Illini they are three of the four players who have left the program since the season ended in early March: Jacqui Grant and Taylor Gleason, who the school has confirmed have been released from scholarships to transfer to other schools, and Taylor Tuck, who has graduated.
None could be reached for comment Monday, but the Daily Illini reported that among the allegations made in letters from the parents was that Gleason was "forced to play" with a broken toe in a game in January.
Neither Kaler, women's basketball coach Matt Bollant, Divilbiss nor athletic director Mike Thomas responded to calls seeking interviews.
Thomas hired Bollant after firing previous coach Jolette Law in 2012. Bollant brought Divilbiss with him from the University of Milwaukee-Green Bay, where Bollant had been head women's coach.
Separately Monday, Bollant announced in a news release that he had promoted assistant coach and recruiting coordinator LaKale Malone to fill Divilbiss' position. The release did not explain why Divilbiss left.
Last week, former Illinois football player Simon Cvijanovic said coach Tim Beckman and his staff pressured him to play hurt and misled him about an injury.
The university hired a Chicago law firm to investigate those allegations and other, similar charges raised by another former player, Nick North.
Copyright 2015 The Associated Press.
