Texas fires tennis coach Center.

Texas has fired men’s tennis coach Michael Center, athletics director Chris Del Conte announced Wednesday. Center’s dismissal is effective immediately and associated head coach Bruce Berque will continue as the Longhorns’ interim coach.

“After working with campus leaders to review the recent situation with Michael Center, we have decided to relieve him of his duties as our men’s tennis coach,” Del Conte said in a statement. “It’s a very difficult decision, and we are grateful for the years of service that he has provided, but winning with integrity will always be paramount at The University of Texas, and it was a decision that had to be made.”

Center, 54, has been accused of accepting lucrative bribes as part of a wide-ranging college admissions conspiracy that “facilitated cheating on college entrance exams and the admission of students to elite universities as purported athletic recruits,” according to documents unsealed on March 12, 2019, in federal court in Boston.

He was formally charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services maul fraud. Center is accused of accepting a $100,000 bribe from William “Rick” Singer, founder of a college preparatory business called The Edge College & Career Network, LLC, also known as “The Key.”

“The integrity of UT admissions is essential to our mission as a research university and to the students and families we serve,” University of Texas president Greg Fenves said in a statement. “That is why any act of wrongdoing, no matter how singular, matters so deeply. ”

Berque is in his fifth season at Texas and his fourth season as associate head coach. Berque was the head coach at Michigan for 10 seasons (2005-14).