Illinois fires women's basketball coach Bollant

Two years after a mass exodus by players leaving the team, Matt Bollant has been fired as women's basketball coach at Illinois.

Illini Director of Athletics Josh Whitman announced Tuesday that Bollant was relieved of his duties immediately, and a national search was underway for a new head coach.

Bollant, who had 282 career wins before taking the job at Illinois, posted a 61-94 record overall and was 22-62 in Big Ten play in five seasons with the Fighting Illini.

In 2015, seven former players filed a $10 million lawsuit against the university, contending that Bollant and an assistant violated Title IX practices, citing acts of racial discrimination as well as verbal and emotional abuse. Five of the players eventually transferred. While an investigation by the university found no violations, university officials reached a settlement with all players involved in the lawsuit.

Bollant has one year remaining on his contract.