Updated: July 23, 2016 at 3:55 p.m.
Men’s basketball head coach Mike Lonergan posted on his Facebook page Friday amid “verbal and emotional abuse,” allegations reported by the Washington Post.
“I have always loved my family and that family includes our basketball family. My life is dedicated to them,” the fifth-year head coach wrote. “I have never done anything but love my players and supported them on or off the court-not just for 4 years but for life. That will continue.”
“I want to thank all my players and their parents who publicly and privately supported me today and refuted the false allegations made against me. You are the reason I’ve been able to live such a blessed life. God bless you all! John 8:32.”
The statement comes one day after the Post published an article that cites former and current players, as well as former team staffers, who spoke on the condition of anonymity about the “offensive, intolerable environment” created by Lonergan.
Scott Tompsett, Lonergan’s attorney, also provided ESPN with a statement on behalf of the coach on Thursday afternoon.
“The Washington Post article is full of lies and half-truths. For example, GWU administrators did not ‘address concerns’ with Coach Lonergan last year. Rather, they looked into allegations and after a thorough investigation, concluded that Coach Lonergan had not violated University policy and that no further action would be taken.”
“The fact of the matter is that the anonymous accusations are not new and they are not true.”
“Coach Lonergan has a well-earned reputation in the college basketball world as a coach who runs his program with integrity and respect. He has always been a champion of diversity and inclusion. Coach Lonergan celebrates those values. Coach Lonergan is proud of his team and its accomplishments both on and off the court. He will aggressively defend himself and his program against false and defamatory accusations.”
A number of former players, including Patricio Garino, Isaiah Armwood and Maurice Creek have publicly defended their former coach.
A GW spokesman said in a statement to the Hatchet Thursday that the University will be bringing in outside counsel to assist in the investigation of allegations against Lonergan.
Former @UVMmbb coach Mike Lonergan on Facebook after verbal abuse allegations by unnamed players in Washington Post pic.twitter.com/oR3Fdu4GA1
— Scott Fleishman (@WCAX_Fleish) July 22, 2016
Enjoying recruiting and looking forward to seeing @patitogarino play tonight vs USA. https://t.co/focwqVHXqS
— Mike Lonergan (@MikeLonergan) July 22, 2016
This post was updated to reflect the following correction:
The Hatchet incorrectly reported that head coach Mike Lonergan’s Facebook post had been deleted. Nothing has been deleted off of Lonergan’s Facebook page. We regret this error.
