Less than two months before the start of the college basketball season, and five months after he led the school to an NIT championship, George Washington fired head coach Mike Lonergan.
The news was first reported by USA Today.
They really fired my man at 10pm on a Friday night. I ain’t gon say to much about…..I JUST DONT AGREE WITH THAT BULLSHIT.
— Isaiah Armwood (@Zeek_Armwood) September 17, 2016
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The Washington Post reported in July that Lonergan’s players reported “verbal and emotional abuse” and he had been under investigation since.
According to multiple players, Lonergan’s critiques crossed the line from constructive to mean-spirited. He told one player his son would always be on food stamps. He told another, in front of the team, he should transfer to a “transgender league,” multiple players said.
One person close to a former GW player said he “went through hell” playing for Lonergan because of constant personal comments and critiques. One former player said he attended therapy and considered quitting basketball because of Lonergan’s language and actions toward him.
George Washington had a recruit, Anthony Longpre, on campus for an official visit and Lonergan reportedly did not show up to dinner with Longpre after being fired earlier Friday, ESPN.com reported.
A year ago, George Washington had told Lonergan that “no further action would be taken” after conducting an “administrative review of allegations…pursuant to the University’s Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence Policy and Procedures.”
A year ago, GW had told Lonergan that ‘no further action would be taken’ after a review into harassment allegations pic.twitter.com/jBxHBWGssH
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) September 17, 2016
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