UA coach to appeal his dismissal in bribery case
Longtime assistant was fired after federal charges
An attorney for Arizona Wildcats assistant coach Emanuel “Book” Richardson said his client is appealing a pretermination notice he received from the University of Arizona after he was accused of bribery and fraud in an FBI investigation into NCAA basketball.
“We’ve filed an appeal, and we’re waiting to hear back for a hearing date,” Tucson attorney Brick Storts III told The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com Monday.
Storts said it would be inappropriate for Richardson to comment on the federal allegations in a university hearing because it could affect the ongoing criminal case in federal court.
“The whole basis for his termination has to be held in abeyance until the case in New York is resolved,” Storts said.
University officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Richardson and assistant coaches at three other schools were arrested in late September as part of an FBI investigation into the criminal influence of money on NCAA coaches and student athletes. They face federal charges of bribery and wire fraud.
Documents filed in federal court allege that Richardson accepted $20,000 in cash bribes in exchange for agreeing
to pressure players to retain a particular management company when those players turned pro and needed representation.
The complaint further alleges that some of the bribe money went to at least one prospective athlete to recruit him to play for the university.
Richardson has been on suspension by the university since the federal charges were announced on Sept. 26. UA officials announced on Oct. 3 that they had started dismissal proceedings against Richardson.
Storts said the UA is basing its termination proceedings entirely on what is contained in the criminal complaint.
“From a practical standpoint, the case in New York has to be resolved before he (Richardson) can make a defense with anything pending at the university,” Storts said.
The Republic filed a public-records request under the Arizona Public Records Law earlier this month requesting documents related to Richardson’s termination proceedings. University officials said they are reviewing the request, but have not yet provided any documents.
Richardson, 44, earns $235,000 a year and has been at the UA for the entire Sean Miller era. He followed the head coach to Arizona after the two worked together at Xavier University in Cincinnati from 2007 to 2009.
Richardson is considered an academic and service professional, according to the one-year contract he signed with the university in July. As such, he receives certain employment protections.
Employees in this category who receive notices of termination for “cause” can request a hearing before a hearing officer, where they can present witnesses and evidence to bolster their defense.
After listening to the evidence, the hearing officer forwards a recommendation to the university president, who makes the final decision.
The process can take time.
For example, the university president has up to 90 days to make a final decision. The employee can then ask for reconsideration of the decision, as long as the request is filed within 15 days.
If Richardson’s dismissal case takes the maximum amount of time allowed, there may not be a resolution until early March.
A preliminary hearing in the criminal case is scheduled on Nov. 9 in New York. He faces up to 60 years in prison and up to a $1.5 million fine if convicted.
The Republic confirmed last week that a federal grand jury had issued subpoenas to universities that are part of a federal investigation into bribery, fraud and corruption in NCAA men’s basketball as the scandal continues to overshadow the upcoming season.
The subpoenas indicate a grand jury is investigating alleged violations of federal law and will determine if there are criminal indictments related to the FBI investigation. Four Division I NCAA basketball assistant coaches and six individuals face criminal charges in three separate criminal complaints.
The other assistant coaches named in the federal complaints include Auburn University’s Chuck Person, University of Southern California’s Tony Bland and Oklahoma State University’s Lamont Evans.
Besides Richardson, three other assistant coaches face federal charges of fraud and bribery in the fraud investigation. Here’s an update on what has happened in each of the cases:
Auburn’s Chuck Person faces federal charges of corruption, bribery and fraud, and he is alleged to have received $91,500 in bribes over 10 months. The school has suspended him without pay and hired a law firm, Lightfoot, Franklin and White, to conduct an internal investigation of the men’s basketball program.
USC’s Tony Bland was placed on indefinite administrative leave after being charged with conspiracy to commit bribery, soliciting a bribe and wire fraud. The federal complaint alleges Bland took bribes to steer Trojans players to Christian Dawkins, a former sports agent who was trying to start his own firm. Bland also is alleged to have facilitated payments of $9,000 in cash to families of two USC basketball players. School officials put Bland on administrative leave after his arrest.
Oklahoma State’s Lamont Evans was fired in late September after being charged in the federal investigation. The federal complaint accuses Evans of accepting $2,000 a month in bribes to funnel athletes to certain agents, including “one and done” players who are talented enough to jump to the NBA after one season.