Perceptions Not An Issue With Beckman Joining Staff

CHAPEL HILL – Larry Fedora spent the first 4 minutes and 49 seconds of his post-practice meeting with the media Wednesday answering questions about somebody not on the school’s payroll or on scholarship.

Sixteen questions, too. Sixteen questions spanning 4:49 about new volunteer assistant coach Tim Beckman.

The interest level was a bit of a surprise, given that Beckman is an unpaid member of the staff, but then again, it’s also understandable.

About this time a year ago, Beckman was fired as head coach at Illinois for essentially mistreating injured players. Illinois Director of Athletics Mike Thomas said at the time Beckman’s termination was “based on the health and well-being of our student-athletes.”

Beckman was accused by more than a handful of players of forcing them to practice and play when injured, and some of the reported manners he went about this were quite unbecoming. Over time the drip, drip, drip of accusations forced the school’s hand a week before their opener and three weeks before the Fighting Illini visited UNC, a game the Tar Heels won 48-14.

UNC head coach Larry Fedora has known Beckman since they worked together at Oklahoma State in 2007. Fedora was the offensive coordinator and Beckman was the defensive coordinator.

“I’m happy to give him a chance to learn how we do things here, what our culture is,” Fedora said. “I’ve known Tim for a long time, he’s a good football coach.

“Let me make something clear so everyone understands: I’m the one that sets the expectations on our culture­­­ and how our student-athletes are treated. I’m at the top, I set it for everybody. So, Tim’s here doing what the NCAA allows him to do as a volunteer assistant, studying film, scouting, all those kinds of things. So, I’m glad we’re able to give him this opportunity until he’s able to find employment.”

To allay any concerns some may have regarding why Beckman was let go at Illinois, Fedora said coaches have no say at UNC if players dealing with injuries can participate. It’s up to the medical staff.

“If you look at our sports medicine crew, we’ve got probably the best in the country and it’s separate here,” he said. “They’re the ones that make the decision whether they’re injured, hurt, whatever, they’re the ones that make the decision on when these guys step out on the field.”

Beckman’s cause at Illinois wasn’t helped by the fact that his teams went 12-25 overall and 4-20 in Big Ten play.

The 51-year-old spent three years as the head coach at Toledo, going 21-16, before taking the job at Illinois. He has also been an assistant coach at Ohio State and Auburn, plus in North Carolina at Western Carolina and Elon. He was on the latter two staffs in the 1990s.

Beckman, who will reportedly earn $250,000 from Illinois this year, likely will be with the program all season. He can be on the sidelines during games and travel with the program to away games, though those decisions haven’t been made yet. There’s also no limit to the amount of time he can spend around the staff and team.

Fedora was a bit dismissive when asked about the image of having Beckman in the program and how much he’d considered that angle. He doesn’t believe everything he reads, and isn’t worried because “I know his side of the story, also.”

The fifth-year head coach wouldn’t have brought Beckman in if he wasn’t comfortable with the situation, Fedora said, though he acknowledged why some people may have reservations about the move.

“I can, and I know it’s going to happen,” he said. “And then a couple of days from now it won’t be news.”

Fedora, who isn’t prone to adlibbing and offering unsolicited thoughts, added to the previous statement:

“I promise you, I didn’t see anywhere where the NCAA said he should be banished from the game of football. The guy didn’t win enough games, that’s all it was.

For Carolina, Beckman brings experience to the staff. Lots of experience.

“He’s been a defensive coordinator, he’s been a head coach at the Power 5 level,” Fedora said. “So he’s another set of eyes when you’re scouting, watching film, it’s a nice thing for us to have.

“I think it’s a win-win situation. We gather something from his knowledge and his experience, and he’s able to see the way we do things in our program and the culture here at Carolina.”