In an hour-long address and a series of follow-up questions covering a broad spectrum of topics, Fighting Illini Director of Athletics Josh Whitman addressed media about the state of University of Illinois athletics Tuesday, June 18, at the Bielfeldt Athletic Administration Building.

Whitman turned the page on the events that surrounded the Illini's 2018-19 season and looked forward to the year ahead. Discussion points included the future of a potential varsity ice hockey program and the arena that would house it, on-going NCAA issues, and Whitman's take on the immediate future of Illini sports teams.

About the arena that would potentially house an Illini hockey team and other sports:  "A downtown (Champaign) facility opens up so many doors for us. It's one of the reasons we've been able to travel as far down the road as we have. We're really excited about that space, about what it would mean for our entire community, and what it would mean for youth sports in the region. We think that a downtown arena would drive more people to the events. It would create the same kind of atmosphere as there is in Indianapolis and would transform a lot of pieces of Champaign-Urbana (hotels, restaurants, etc.). I'm excited about continuing to advance that exploration."

About who would actually own the arena: "We've evaulated a lot of different concepts and it's one of the things that has taken us some time to understand. At the end of the day, it looks like the best solution for us would be to have the land donated to the University, and then for us to build a building and own it on that space. That's the path that we're currently walking down. At one point, we were talking about leasing the building from someone else, but this (owning it) seems to make more sense."

About the status of injured defensive lineman Bobby Roundtree:  "Bobby is now in Chicago. He was transported and arrived last Wednesday at a rehabilitation center in the city. We expect that he'll be there from three-to-six months, after which time he'll transition back here to Champaign. Obviously, ours is a campus that's designed for people who've been through some physical challenges. His mother is up there with him and she provides daily support for Bobby. He's lucky to have her in his life. Being in Chicago allows us to have people see him practically every day. Bobby's got a long road in front of him, but he's got an incredible work ethic and outlook, and we will be there to support him every step of the way."

About intercollegiate athletics and the issue of sports gambling:  "There are a lot of issues that occupy my time. Sports gambling has taken center stage here within our own state in recent weeks and we've seen similar bills passed in Indiana and Iowa. Not often do the Division I athletics directors in our state gather around a particular issue, but this is one that could have an impact on our respective programs. (Illinois State A.D.) Larry Lyons and I ended up on the front end of that. We're very grateful to our state legislature for being willing to listen to our concerns and for some of the modifications that they were willing to make to their bill. We'll see how that rolls out in the Fall."

About the issue of student-athletes and transferring schools:  "I can't go to a meeting these days without having the topic of transfers come up. It's a really hard subject that's not easily solved. The NCAA has convened a number of groups over the last three years to try and solve this Rubik's Cube, and more or less have been unsuccessful in doing so. What we have to remember is that the NCAA is us. It's a member-based organization. They are doing the things that we've asked them to do. Ultimately, sometimes we disagree with how they do it. If we disagree too much, then we need to ask them to do it differently. On one hand, we say 'give us guidance and tell us what you need in order for a waiver to be granted'. On the other hand, when they deny the waiver because it doesn't fit within our guidelines, we call their guidelines too constrictive. We're kind of asking to have it both ways and I recognize that. The rate at which athletes are departing and how we intend to handle those departures is a topic that's not going away anytime soon. Unfortunately, the facts of Luke Ford's case didn't fit the criteria that the NCAA has put forward for a waiver. In Luke's case, there were some guidelines that we didn't meet. We wanted what's best for Luke, but the NCAA didn't see it that way."

About the fans' expectations for Illini football and basketball teams in 2019-20:  "I think it's great. I want them to be expectant and optimistic. Both football and basketball have taken tremendous strides over the last few years. We've got the right coaches and student-athletes in place, people who've grown up together and been in the trenches of Big Ten competition. If Lovie (Smith) and Brad (Underwood) were here, they would say the same thing. We're in the window now of expecting success. I don't know if that success will come this year or next year, but our student-athletes deserve it. We've done the right things to be a successful Big Ten program."

About the success of other Illini varsity programs:  "We have a program that's operating at a very high level in a lot of respects. From the Final Four run that volleyball went on last Fall, to success in soccer that increased its victory total and just missed on a berth in the NCAA tournament, to women's golf that has built steadily over time and, this year, finished ninth in the country. Men's tennis and men's golf have been doing it at a high level for a long time. There are a lot of things to be positive about."

About Illinois taking a hiatus from playing an annual basketball game at Chicago's United Center:  "I don't know if it will be a one-year thing or possibly a longer break, but it's not a permanent thing. We'll be back at some point. The United Center has served as a great home for us since 1994. But with some of the different scheduling parameters that exist now in the Big Ten—twenty Big Ten games versus sixteen, the Big Ten/ACC Challenge game, the Gavitt Games—it gives us an opportunity to bring some big games to the State Farm Center. The game in Chicago hasn't drawn the way we've wanted it to in recent years. We made an effort last year of taking a Big Ten game to the United Center and we were only able to draw 5,000 people. That game at the State Farm Center would have been a 14,000-person crowd. We want to let it breathe a little bit and let it shine again. We'll be back up there in due time."

About Illinois's current coaches and staff:  "One of the beauties of University of Illinois athletics is that it is a program of the people. It belongs to every person who has ever donned an Illinois jersey, to every fan who's ever bought an Illinois ticket, to every donor who's ever given a dollar to the I Fund. This is a program that represents our entire state. It continues to be a tremendous privilege for me to represent all of those different people who care so much about this program and the great tradition that we have. From our upper leadership to our coaching staff and throughout our support staff, it's a lot of work to build a culture. It's a lot of work to try and create a family. I think that we've been able to do that in a way that is uncommon. That's one of the reasons that I believe success will come."