HoopDirt.com’s Daily News from the college basketball coaching world…
- Back on December 7th, HoopDirt.com mentioned that Detroit head coach Bacari Alexander had returned from a seven game absence stemming from an “unspecified personnel matter.” Now, a report from the Detroit Free Press has emerged citing details about the incident that led to Alexander’s suspension. The Free Press reported that Alexander had allegedly told junior forward Tariiq Jones “to suck his (genitalia)” grabbed his balls and stared at him during a Nov. 6 practice. The Free Press also reported that Alexander had sent a text to Jones’ mother apologizing for the gesture. In the text, Alexander suggests the comment was made in jest. Links to the stories can be found HERE and HERE.
- Billy Gillispie told the Dallas Morning News that he is in urgent need of a kidney transplant. The former head coach at Kentucky, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, and UTEP had most recently been the head coach at Ranger College (TX). According to the report, on November 26, a day after coaching a game at Angelina College, he was admitted to Abilene’s Hendrick Medical Center. Gillispie said he was treated for pneumonia and that his heart was shocked back into rhythm after tests showed he’d recently had a heart attack. Two days ago, Gillispie returned for a follow-up with a nephrologist, where he was told he is in kidney failure due to years of chronic high blood pressure. The full story can be found HERE.
- The NCAA placed the University of Northern Colorado men’s basketball program on three years’ probation among other sanctions after finding academic fraud and recruiting violations by ex-coach B.J. Hill and some of his assistants. The violations by Hill and eight members of his staff over a four-year span included completing coursework for prospects, paying for classes prospects needed to become academically eligible and arranging off-campus practice sessions with an academically ineligible student-athlete. Seven coaches received “show cause” orders, including a six-year penalty for Hill, five years for two assistant coaches, four years for another assistant coach and three years for two assistant coaches and the graduate assistant. During the show cause periods, if an NCAA school hires the coach, that school must demonstrate why restrictions on the coach’s athletically related duties should not apply. The complete story can be found HERE.
- A couple of coaches recently had milestone victories…
Stanford head coach Jerod Haase recently picked up win #100 for his career. He went 80-53 in his four seasons at UAB, and is now 20-23 in his second season with the Cardinal.
LaGrange College (GA) head coach Kendal Wallace also earned his 100th career win. Wallace is in his seventh season at LaGrange and has an overall record of 100-74 with four straight NCAA Division III national tournament appearances and three USA South Tournament championships.
- The HoopDirt.com Coach of the Week presented by Just Play Solutions winners were announced yesterday. The full list of winners from the DI, DII, DIII, NAIA, and JUCO levels can be found HERE. Nominations for next week’s award can be sent to: [email protected]
