CHICAGO — Six years after his accusations of improper benefits led to the exit of two University of Georgia basketball coaches, Tony Cole is in the middle of another scandal that has led to the dismissal of a county official in Illinois.

Cole was recently fired as a human resources assistant with Cook County in Chicago. Cole’s former boss, the county’s chief financial officer Donna Dunnings, was asked to resign last week after it was disclosed she had twice bailed Cole out of a Chicago jail following his recent arrests for violating a protection order involving an ex-girlfriend that he had pleaded guilty to punching in the face in 2008.

Dunnings’ cousin is Cook County President Todd Stroger, who hired Cole as a county patronage worker. Cole was later promoted to a $61,189-a-year human resources assistant in the County Highway Department.

In 2003, Cole told a TV journalist he made an "A" in University of Georgia a class he did not attend, which is academic fraud, according to NCAA rules. The class was taught by former Georgia assistant coach Jim Harrick Jr., the son of the head coach.

In the same interview, Cole said the Harricks provided him with money for a hotel stay, telephone bills and even a TV set, all in violation of NCAA rules.

Harrick resigned and Harrick Jr. was fired in 2003 as NCAA sanctions were placed on the basketball program.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Cole faced new charges that included violating his bond, obstructing a police officer, resisting police and battery. Last week, his bond was increased to $200,000 and he was sent back to the Cook County Jail.