Ex-Rutgers coaching candidate facing player abuse complaints
Rutgers finally may have lucked out with a coaching decision.
George Washington University players, in an explosive report from the Washington Post, reported verbal and emotional abuse by men’s basketball coach Mike Lonergan, whom Rutgers considered for its recent coaching vacancy.
An unnamed GW player logged complaints with a campus Title IX coordinator, according to the Washington Post, saying Lonergan had “created an offensive, intolerable environment” during his five years as head coach of the Colonials.
The specifics of the complaints included demoralizing players and issuing graphic remarks about the director of athletics, per the report. The player was told by a Title IX coordinator that the issue had been handled. The player emailed the coordinator on April 16 to express his concern that seemingly nothing had been done.
Lonergan interviewed for the Rutgers job in mid-March, before quickly withdrawing his name from consideration. Former Stony Brook head coach Steve Pikiell was ultimately hired. The Scarlet Knights’ program has yet to recover from the practice videos released in 2013 of former coach Mike Rice verbally and physically abusing players.
Lonergan has had 13 players transfer from GW in his five years on the job and per the report administration has received concerns from players but there have been no public consequences.
“I don’t think the guy [Lonergan] should be in sports,” a former GW player told the Washington Post. “I don’t think what he said should be tolerated. I would like to stay at GW. I will not play for Mike Lonergan.”
In response to allegations, Lonergan said, “I will not respond to anonymous, unfounded allegations. These types of accusations have already been investigated by the University and found to be groundless.
“Those who know me know that I conduct myself and run my program with integrity. I have a long record of graduating student-athletes who go on to be successful in life. I am proud of my student-athletes’ success on the court and in the classroom, and I am focused on preparing for the upcoming season.”
According to the report, Lonergan tried to find out which players had spoken anonymously and emailed the team referring to the allegations as “lies.”