My Jan. 28 column from CBS Chicago …
(CBS) Generally, contract extensions and pay raises come as a result of success. But for University of Illinois athletic director Mike Thomas, apparently the hope in Champaign is that they’ll lead to success instead.
Last Thursday, Illinois’ third-year athletic director was awarded by the school’s board of trustees with a contract extension through Aug. 28, 2019, and a salary bump of $50,392 that pushes Thomas’ base compensation to $554,320 annually.
Those rewards come in spite of the fact that Thomas’ hand-picked football coach is 6-18 overall and 1-15 in the Big Ten, his hand-picked basketball coach is currently mired in a six-game Big Ten losing streak and fans’ attendance at both Memorial Stadium and State Farm Center doesn’t exactly have the ticket office jumping for joy.
Continue reading at CBSChicago.com …