Timothy Flanagan hasn’t been on the job very long but it’s hard to get around allegations of assault.

ABC 7 in Chicago reports.

Illinois State University President Timothy Flanagan resigns amid assault claim investigation

Illinois State University President Timothy Flanagan resigned Saturday after just seven months in the job.

Authorities are investigating a claim that Flanagan hit a former campus employee during an argument.

Flanagan stepped down during a special Board of Trustees meeting. The resignation took effect immediately, and Vice President for Student Affairs Larry Dietz was named to replace him, according to a university statement.

“I appreciate the experience of working with the students, faculty, staff and alumni of Illinois State, but, after discussion with the board, I have decided it would be best that I pursue other opportunities,” Flanagan said in brief remarks included in the university statement.

Board Chairman Michael McCuskey said board members thanked Flanagan for his service and wished him well in the future.

The statement made no reference to the police complaint, and ISU Chief of Staff Jay Groves said the university would have no further comment.

The complaint against Flanagan accuses him of assaulting a former employee while complaining about the care of the lawn at the university-owned president’s residence.

Then-superintendent of grounds R. Patrick Murphy claimed that Flanagan’s saliva hit him in the face, that Flanagan’s arm hit his torso and that Flanagan yelled at him on Dec. 5 outside the home, according to a police report.

Murphy told police he was supervising a crew working on the lawn when Flanagan ran out of the house and complained about the work.