(AP) — The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign athletic director said his department was operating at about a $6.2 million deficit in 2016, with both revenue and spending figures ranking in the bottom half of the Big Ten. Whitman addressed various topics including generating more revenue, more state pride in the program, competing in the upper division of the Big Ten, scrutiny on athletes and the lack of a university mascot. Matt Bollant, who had one winning season in five years and was sued two years ago for allegedly abusing players, was fired as the Illinois women's basketball coach last month. Whitman made the announcement three days after he fired men's coach John Groce, whose team went 20-15 and failed to make the NCAA tournament.