Amid skepticism, Larry Fedora stands by hiring of former Illinois coach Tim Beckman

For Larry Fedora, it was personal.

The North Carolina football coach and former Illinois coach Tim Beckman were offensive and defensive coordinators, respectively, for Oklahoma State in 2007. Now, the two are reunited, as Beckman joins UNC as a volunteer assistant for the 2016 season.

Beckman was fired from Illinois in August 2015, when an internal investigation claimed he mistreated some of his players.

“If I wouldn’t have known Tim, it may not have happened,” Fedora said of the hiring. “But since I knew him, I was comfortable with him. I know who he is as a person.”

Fedora spoke with Beckman several times this summer as the former coach was seeking a job.

“I told him if he didn’t find what he was looking for, and he wanted to do it, that I would create a volunteer assistant position for him,” Fedora said.

Fedora said he spoke with Athletic Director Bubba Cunningham, who approved the decision to hire Beckman.

Beckman has been part of the UNC staff since training camp began. As a volunteer assistant, Beckman will help scout and review film for the defense. He can attend away games and stand on the sideline, though Fedora hasn’t decided if Beckman will.

As a volunteer, Beckman will not receive a salary.

Allegations from former Illinois player Simon Cvijanovic sparked the investigation into Beckman. The offensive lineman said Beckman pressured him to play through injuries, and he said a doctor hired by Illinois removed nearly all of his left meniscus without his permission in December 2013.

Beckman was fired from Illinois when the investigation claimed he pressured other athletes to play injured or postpone treatment. According to the report, Beckman threatened student-athletes’ scholarships and pressured four players to give up their scholarships in 2014.

“Both of those findings are unsettling violations of University policy and practice and do not reflect the culture that we wish to create in athletic programs for our young people,” Mike Thomas, then-athletic director for Illinois, said in a statement.

Beckman denied any implications of wrongdoing.

“The health and well-being of our student athletes is of paramount importance to me, and any statement made to the contrary is utterly false,” he said in a statement.

When asked to comment on Beckman’s UNC hiring, an Illinois football official said in an email, “No reaction.”

Amid outside concerns, Fedora made clear where Beckman’s role ends.

“I’m the one that sets the expectations on our culture, and how our student-athletes are treated,” Fedora said. “I’m the top. I set it for everybody.”

@rblakerich_

sports@dailytarheel.com