OSU Coach to Be Fired...Recruiting Violations

WTVN Radio

[joesbucks]

Jim O'Brien, coach of OSU basketball will be terminated this afternoon according to WTVN Columbus radio. Recruiting violation.

[TonyInOhio]

NOOOOO!

I've always thought Jim O'Brien was one of the good ones. I hope it proves to be so.

[flutters]

I'm listening to the press conference. Shocking.

[Credo]

Here's an ugly rumor.

Bobby Knight.

[Phantom Lord]

College sports, especially basketball, seems to be a criminal enterprise.

[Bikers4Bush]

Well that's ugly. Considering that our basketball team hasn't been much to speak of these last fews years I find it odd that he would have recruiting violations.

[TonyInOhio]

Whoa - ugly is right. I hope that one doesn't pan out.

Or, if it does, that they replace the team chairs with benches. :-)

[connectthedots]

What are they saying in the press conference?

[ken5050]

On a "higher" level...six member of the Balt. Ravens are currently under criminal indictment in 3 different states..

[flutters]

O'Brien Fired At Ohio State

Geiger: Recruiting Allegations Cited

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State men's basketball coach Andy Geiger announced Tuesday that head basketball coach Jim O'Brien was fired.

Associate head coach Rick Boyages was named the interim head coach until a permanent replacement is named.

At an afternoon news conference, Geiger mentioned that O'Brien (pictured, left) was given the choice to resign or be fired. Geiger mentioned numerous allegations in the Columbus Serbian community against O'Brien involving former Buckeye guard Boban Savovic. Also, O'Brien mentioned a possible recruiting allegation that occurred involving former Ohio State recruit Alex Radojevic.

"We feel this action is appropriate based on these admitted facts even though the lawsuit involving Boban Savovic continues," Geiger said. "We will cooperate fully with the NCAA until this investigation is complete."

O'Brien left Boston College -- his alma mater -- in 1997 to coach at Ohio State. He led the Buckeyes to five consecutive postseason tournaments and back-to-back championship games in the annual Big Ten postseason tournament.

His greatest accomplishment at Ohio State was leading the Buckeyes to college basketball's Final Four in 1999.

The Buckeyes struggled this past season and failed to make postseason play.

Watch NewsChannel 4 and refresh nbc4columbus.com for additional information.

[Per-Ling]

Oh no!!! A pristine, wholesome, all-american Big Ten athletic program rocked with recruiting scandal? Well, well, well. I thought these things only happened in the Florida schools...

ANYONE who has EVER given anyone cr@p over their alma mater experiencing scandal, be on notice. Your lily-white program is next.

[flutters]

This from the Columbus Dispatch:

Ohio State fires O'Brien
Tuesday, June 08, 2004
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Ohio State Athletics Director Andy Geiger today announced the firing of men's basketball coach Jim O'Brien because of an admitted violation of NCAA rules, specifically that O'Brien gave $6,000 to a prospective student athlete.

Associate head coach Rick Boyages will be the interim head coach until a permanent coach is named.

O'Brien released the following statement through his attorney, James Zeszutek:

"I learned this morning, by letter, that I was being fired as head men's basketball coach at Ohio State University for alleged violations of NCAA bylaws. I am advised that my firing is because I was asked to and tried to give assistance to a young man's family who was in dire financial straits. The assistance in no way influenced the young man in his decision to attend OSU, and, indeed, the young man did not enroll at OSU.

"My lawyers have asked to meet with OSU administrators and their counsel to explain the details of what occurred, but OSU unfortunately refused to do so. I am grateful for the support I have received from the people in Columbus and throughout the State of Ohio while I have been coaching at OSU."

Zeszutek said that he and O'Brien requested to speak with Ohio State administrators and counsel to explain the details of what occurred, but the university refused that request.

O'Brien compiled a 119-72 record in seven seasons at Ohio State and has a 368-305 record in 22 seasons as a college head coach.

He was hired as the 12th head men's basketball coach at Ohio State at the start of the 1997-98 season. His OSU teams reached the 1999 Final Four, won 2000 and 2002 Big Ten regular-season co-championships and won the 2002 Big Ten Tournament championship. He posted four 20-victory seasons and a school record four-consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances (1999-2002).

Following the 1999 Final Four run, O'Brien was honored as the 1999 Clair Bee Coach of the Year, presented by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He also was the 1999 National Coach of the Year as named by the Touchdown Club of Columbus; the 1999 National Co-Coach of the Year as named by the National Association of Basketball Coaches; the 1999 Big Ten Coach of the Year as selected by the Big Ten media and the 1999 U.S. Basketball Writers Association District 5 Coach of the Year. He also was named the Big Ten Coach of the Year award in 2001, when the media gave him the honor for the second time in three seasons.

Ohio State was O'Brien's third head-coaching job. He spent 11 seasons at Boston College, where his teams made NCAA Tournament appearances in three of his past four seasons.

St. Bonaventure hired O'Brien in 1982. He stayed four years before going to Boston College, his alma mater, 1986.

[Lost Highway]

Jim O'Brien

Glen Mason

I always thought it was errie how much Jim O'Brien and Glen Mason (Minnesota's football coach) looked alike.

[flutters]

Yes, they do look alike.

Pinging Lisa, I know you thought a lot of Coach O'Brien.

[connectthedots]

He seems like he might be a compassionate guy, especially if he has given that kind of money to families of kids who had no basketball talent. I will not totally condemn a guy IF this was a one-time case that occurred so long ago. That said, it still warrants his dismissal.

[connectthedots]

ANYONE who has EVER given anyone cr@p over their alma mater experiencing scandal, be on notice. Your lily-white program is next.

You have a point, although I would use a different metaphor. Don't think there are really many 'lily-white' basketball programs in Division I.

[Big E]

Jeez, just about gave me a heart attack. I saw the headline, and thought, NOooooooooooooo not Jim Tressel, the only man in my lifetime to lead the Bucks to the title! Ahh, it's only the basketball coach. Although he did get us to a Final Four, which was pretty cool, I will certainly part with him before Tressel.

Big E, OSU 1990

[VaBthang4]

BUSH'S FAULT!

[chimera]

He seems like he might be a compassionate guy, especially if he has given that kind of money to families of kids who had no basketball talent. I will not totally condemn a guy IF this was a one-time case that occurred so long ago.

The story in the papers this morning said something about him giving the kid's family the money to help out with funeral expenses. No other details. In that context, $6K sounds about right. If he really wanted to pay the kid off to play ball here, 6 bills is probably on the low side.

That said, it still warrants his dismissal.

Yes, and he should know better. Any kind of monetary transaction between the school and the recruit is something they're going to nail you for. That's just the spirit of the age now in college athletics. They're not going to tolerate even the appearance of payoffs. It's one of the things (in addition to having a losing record) that got one of his predecessors (Ayres) in trouble.

[LisaMalia]

Pinging Lisa, I know you thought a lot of Coach O'Brien.

Thanks, Flutters. Yes, I know Coach O'Brien, and talked to him on several occasions when my daughter played at Ohio State.

I knew him as a man of integrity, who always treated the women's program with respect. Since he broke the rules for whatever reason, Andy did the right thing. I sure do hate to hear this though, as do my daughter and her husband. Sad.