Former Illini athletic director Mike Thomas

Athletic director Mike Thomas watches the fourth quarter of a football game between Illinois and Middle Tennessee.

Illinois athletic director Mike Thomas announces offensive coordinator Bill Cubit as the interim coach of the football team during a news conference on Aug. 28, 2015.

Illinois athletic director Mike Thomas, left, and chancellor Phyllis Wise answer questions about an independent investigation by the Chicago law firm Pugh, Jones & Johnson, clearing the University of allegations by players of a racially hostile environment on Aug. 3, 2015.

Illinois Athletics Director Mike Thomas announces the firing of head basketball coach Bruce Weber during a press conference on March 9, 2012.

New Illini AD Mike Thomas in 2011.

FILE - In this March 28, 2012 file photo, University of Illinois Director of Athletics Mike Thomas announces the hiring of Matt Bollant as the head women’s basketball coach in Champaign, Ill. Seven former U of I women’s basketball players filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday July 1, 2015, against the university that accuses coach Bollant and a former assistant Mike Divilbiss of violating their civil rights by creating a racially hostile environment. The lawsuit names the university, Thomas, Bollant, Divilbiss, and the university’s board of trustees. (John Dixon/The News-Gazette via AP, File) MANDATORY CREDIT  (John Dixon / AP)