The end of the month remains the target for the University of Illinois to get a deal done with its next athletic director, President Tim Killeen says.
Also happening on the last day of January: the finals of tennis' first major of 2016, put on for the 11th year by Tennis Australia CEO and national championship-winning former Illini coach Craig Tiley.
Coincidence?
"The timing is perfect," said Cary Franklin, Tiley's first major UI recruit and the program's first NCAA champ. "He's been in tennis long enough, at least 30-plus years. He's arguably over the premier Grand Slam event.