Badgers’ basketball strength aide quits
Helland used racial epithet in front of players
MADISON – Erik Helland, a native of Edgerton who was in his seventh season as the strength and conditioning coach for the University of Wisconsin men’s basketball team, has resigned.
UW officials made the announcement Thursday:
“UW Athletics administration was informed last weekend that Helland, while recounting a story from earlier in his NBA career, had used a racial epithet in the presence of multiple Wisconsin men’s basketball student-athletes.
“UW Athletics con- firmed that assertion on Sunday. UW Athletics works to promote a safe and welcoming environment for its student-athletes and staff and the aforementioned language used does not align with the values of the athletic department, men’s basketball program or the university.”
The Journal Sentinel reported Thursday morning that Helland had been placed on administrative leave. He did not travel with the team to Minneapolis for UW’s Big Ten game Wednesday against rival Minnesota.
Helland, who worked in the NBA for 25 seasons before coming to UW in 2013, contacted the Journal Sentinel to clarify what had transpired. According to Helland, he was speaking with several members of the team on Jan. 3 in Columbus, Ohio, one day before UW faced Ohio State.
“I was sharing a story from my NBA career and was explaining the intensity of a particular athlete,” Helland said. “I quoted that individual and in doing so repeated a repugnant word. In no way were these my words and I clearly stated my disapproval.
“From the beginning I owned what I said and made apologies to the studentathletes affected. I made a mistake in a
moment of inattentiveness. For that, I have the deepest regret.”
Helland said rather than sharing the story with head coach Greg Gard, he apologized to the players involved and thought the matter was closed.
“I specifically addressed the studentathletes and we handled it as a group,” he said. “Everything was fine . ... Apologies were accepted and everyone was doing just fine . ...
“It really didn’t come back up until Kobe decided that he wanted to leave.”
Everything changed in the days between UW’s loss Jan. 27 at Iowa and the Badgers’ victory Feb. 1 over Michigan State.
Redshirt sophomore guard Kobe King informed the coaching staff two days before the Iowa game he was leaving the team. King eventually announced on Jan. 29 he planned to transfer.
Helland noted he heard rumors that week the incident he felt had been handled would be shared publicly. He declined to say who might share the incident.
“You start to hear little whispers, rumors that something was going on,” he said.
Helland informed Gard and UW administrators a day or two before the Michigan Sate game what had transpired in Columbus.
“It was the right thing to do,” he said. “At some point it has to go up the chain.”
Although sources with access to the program told the Journal Sentinel that King had been present when Helland used the epithet, UW said in its statement and Helland reiterated that he was not.
“I cannot overstate this,” Helland said. “I would never do anything, nor have I ever done anything to intentionally insult or hurt any of our student athletes. I would never do anything to hurt our team . ...
“It cost me my job and I am devastated. I let my family down. I let the university down. More importantly, I let those guys in that locker room down.”
King, an all-state performer at La Crosse Central High School before signing with UW, used Instagram to announce his decision to leave the program.
King thanked numerous people in his Instagram post, including Helland.