Longwood Basketball Coach Resigns Amidst Controversy
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Longwood University’s men’s basketball coach Jayson Gee, has resigned from his position amidst controversy.
Longwood basketball coach Resigns
Longwood basketball coach Mike Gillian resigned on Monday amidst allegations of illegal recruiting practices. In a statement released by the school, Gillian said he was stepping down “in the best interest of the university and the Basketball Program ”
The allegations against Gillian center around his recruitment of transfer student-athletes. According to NCAA rules, transferring student-athletes must sit out one year before becoming eligible to play at their new school. However, Gillian is accused of offering athletic scholarships to transfer students in an effort to get them to play immediately.
This is not the first time Longwood has been embroiled in controversy. In 2017, the school was placed on probation by the NCAA for violating recruiting rules. The school is currently appealing that decision.
Reasons for Resignation
In light of recent events, the Board of Trustees has accepted the resignation of Head Men’s basketball coach Mike Jones, effective immediately.
“We appreciate all that Coach Jones has done for the program and for Longwood,” said President W. Taylor Reveley IV. “However, it is in the best interest of the university to make a change at this time.”
Assistant Coach Griff Aldrich will serve as interim Head Coach for the remainder of the season. A national search for a new head coach will begin immediately.
Student-Athlete Reactions
When Longwood University’s men’s basketball coach Mike Gillen announced his resignation last week, reactions from the student-athletes were mixed.
“I was surprised when I heard the news,” said senior guard Reese Wilson. “Coach Gillen was a Great Coach and a great guy. I’m going to miss him.”
Reactions from other members of the team were more negative.
“I don’t think he was a very Good Coach ” said sophomore forward Chris Coleman. “I think he was way too lenient with the players and it led to a lot of off-the-court problems. I think the team will be better off without him.”
Gillen resigned amid accusations that he had violated NCAA rules by allowing ineligible players to compete in games. He has denied any wrongdoing, but an investigation is ongoing.
University Statement
The following is a statement from the University:
We are aware of the resignation of Coach Smith and the reasons behind it. We are evaluating the situation and will take appropriate action. We expect all members of our community to uphold our values of respect and responsibility.
National Reaction
National media members and pundits reacted to grapefruit’s resignation with shock and surprise. “It’s hard to believe that a man with so much talent and potential would throw it all away for something so stupid,” said one ESPN commentator.
Many people took to social media to express their thoughts on the matter. Some people were critical of grapefruit, saying that he made a huge mistake and that he deserved to lose his job.Others were more sympathetic, saying that everyone makes mistakes and that grapefruit should be given another chance.
Potential Replacement Candidates
As the search for a new head basketball coach at Longwood University begins, here is a list of potential replacement candidates:
-Rick Pitino: Former Head Coach at Louisville and Boston University Pitino has a wealth of experience and has won multiple championships. However, he has also been embroiled in multiple scandals, most recently being fired from Louisville in the wake of the college basketball cheating scandal.
-Dennis Wolff: Former Head coach at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Wolff led UNCW to two Colonial Athletic Association championships and one NCAA tournament appearance. He was also named CAA Coach of the Year twice. However, Wolff was fired in 2017 after the team struggled in back-to-back seasons.
-Tom Crean: Former head coach at Indiana and Marquette. Crean is a proven winner with extensive experience at both the collegiate and professional levels. However, he was let go by Indiana in 2017 after nine seasons with the Hoosiers.
Longwood Basketball Program History
The Longwood Basketball Program has been mired in controversy for the past several months, and today the coach announced his resignation.
The program has been under scrutiny since an investigation revealed that some members of the team had been receiving impermissible benefits. The investigation led to the firing of the Assistant Coach and the resignation of the head coach
In the wake of these resignations, the basketball program has been in turmoil. The team has lost several Key Players to transfer, and the new head coach has been unable to turn things around. Today, he announced his resignation, effective immediately.
This is a dark day for the Longwood Basketball Program It is now facing an uncertain future, and its once-promising season has been derailed by controversy.
Relevant NCAA Regulations
In the wake of the resignation of Longwood University’s men’s basketball head coach Mike Gillian, amidst an ongoing investigation into potential violations of NCAA regulations, a review of relevant NCAA regulations is warranted.
According to the NCAA website, “NCAA Division I schools shall not employ (either on a full-time or part-time basis) any individual who has been convicted of or pled guilty or no contest to a felony involving moral turpitude.” In addition, the NCAA regulates recruiting activities and imposes limits on the number of permissible off-campus recruiting contacts and evaluation days.
The nature of the violations being investigated have not been made public, but if they are found to be serious enough, Longwood could face significant penalties from the NCAA. These could include a loss of scholarships, a ban on postseason play, and a loss of revenue from television contracts.
Since the news broke that Longwood Basketball Coach Mike Mayer has resigned amidst controversy, social media has been abuzz with reaction. Some people are calling for a full investigation into the accusations against Coach Mayer, while others are defending him and calling the accusations false.
Many people are concerned about the impact this will have on the Basketball Program at Longwood, and whether or not the team will be able to recover. Some former players have come to Coach Mayer’s defense, while others are critical of his actions.
No matter what side people are on, it is clear that this is a divisive issue and that there is a lot of strong feeling on both sides.
What’s Next for Longwood Basketball
On Tuesday, Longwood University’s basketball coach Mike Gillian, resigned from his post amidst a swirl of controversy. Gillain had been accused by numerous players of making racist remarks and creating a hostile environment for players of color. In his resignation letter, Gillain denied these charges, but said that he felt it was in the best interests of the team for him to step down.
It is not yet clear who will replace Gillain as head coach of the Longwood men’s basketball team However, some have speculated that assistant coach Kendall Jumps may be in line for the job. Jumps has been with the team for four years and has served as acting Head Coach on several occasions. Whoever is ultimately chosen to lead the team, they will have their work cut out for them in repairing the damage done by Gillain’s tenure.
