UNC Football Hiring Tim Beckman as Volunteer Assistant Creates Controversy

In the opening weeks of last season, the UNC football team defeated Illinois by a landslide—just days after the Illini fired head coach Tim Beckman due to player mistreatment.

It was announced Wednesday that Beckman has now found a new home in Chapel Hill, working as a volunteer assistant under head coach Larry Fedora.

An outside law firm which investigated Beckman’s situation at Illinois found that the coach made efforts to discourage injury reporting–and forced injured players to play before they were physically ready.

Another issue that was raised in the investigation centered on seniors having their scholarships revoked for their final spring semester–once they were done playing for the team.

Still though, the 51-year-old is back in coaching thanks to his relationship with Fedora. Beckman was the defensive coordinator at Oklahoma State in 2007 while Fedora directed the offense.

“I’ve known Tim for a long time,” Fedora said after Wednesday’s practice. “He’s a good football coach.

Beckman (left) met Fedora when he was the defensive coordinator at Oklahoma State in 2007. (Photo via Matt Strasen/ The Oklahoman)

“But let me make something clear, so everybody understands,” he continued. “I’m the one that sets the expectations on our culture—and how our student-athletes are treated. I’m at the top, and I set it for everybody.

“Tim’s here doing what the NCAA allows him to do as a volunteer assistant.”

As one of three volunteer assistants, Beckman’s duties are limited to scouting and evaluating film. Under NCAA rules he will not be allowed to provide hands-on coaching to any of the Tar Heel players.

The plan is for him to spend the entire season at UNC working with Fedora as he tries to eventually get back on his feet within the coaching world—regardless of the outside opinions that decision brings along with it.

“I don’t believe everything I read,” Fedora told reporters. “I know Tim. I know his side of the story also—so I was comfortable [with the hire].

“If I wouldn’t have been [comfortable], honestly I wouldn’t have brought him–and I wouldn’t have allowed him to be in our program,” he continued. “But I don’t have any issues with it at all.”

Fedora admitted he wouldn’t have made the hire without personally knowing Beckman, but made sure to reinforce that similar issues–those surrounding injuries–will not pop up at UNC.

He credits the skill of head athletic trainer Kenny Boyd and his staff for being able to keep coaches from having influence over who does and doesn’t play.

“It’s seperate here,” Fedora said, when talking about how injuries are handled at the school. “[Team doctors] are the ones that make the decisions on our guys—whenever they’re hurt, injured or whatever they are—they’re the ones that make the decision on when these guys step out on the field.

“It’s easy for me because Kenny just tells me when they can go.”

At the end of the day, Beckman’s hire represents a way for UNC to receive high-level coaching input as the Tar Heels look to build off last year’s incredible campaign.

Fedora took similar heat when he hired Gene Chizik as defensive coordinator one year ago, but 11 wins did plenty to cool down that chatter.

Beckman’s past is far from perfect, but ultimately he’s earned a second chance. It’s what he does with that chance which will provide the ultimate judgment on Fedora’s decision.

“I promise you,” Fedora said. “I didn’t see anywhere where the NCAA said he should be banished from the game of football.”