CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — An open records request has found that 57 University of Illinois athletics employees are part of a program that has dealers provide them with $1.5 million worth of vehicles.
The (Champaign) News-Gazette found that the “Fighting Illini Wheels” program has 33 dealers provide the cars. The vehicles go to coaches, administrators and wives. Men’s basketball coach John Groce drives a 2015 BMW worth more than $68,000 and UI athletic director Mike Thomas has a 2014 Hyundai worth $55,000.
UI athletics spokesman Kent Brown says the program is “a benefit for staff members who do a lot of driving.” Brown says officials can drive the cars for personal and business use but they have to pay for gas and maintenance. The vehicle use qualifies as a donation for dealerships.
