The Binghamton University men’s basketball program may finally be able to move beyond the shroud of controversy that has afflicted it for more than a year, and they will do so with Mark Macon remaining at the helm.
University officials also indicated it is unlikely that former head coach Kevin Broadus would ever return to coaching at BU.
According to a letter from NCAA Assistant Director of Enforcement Mike Zonder to interim Athletic Director Jim Norris, the NCAA has closed its inquiry regarding possible NCAA violations committed by the men’s basketball program. The NCAA concluded that no major infractions took place.
‘This is a good outcome from what has been an unpleasant situation,’ said BU interim President C. Peter Magrath.
As a result of the closure the letter brings, the future of suspended coach Kevin Broadus has come into question. Broadus’ attorney Linda Kenney Baden issued a statement on Broadus’ behalf after receiving notice of the NCAA’s decision to close the case.
‘Since the investigation is closed it is time for SUNY Binghamton to restore coach Kevin Broadus’ dignity and reputation,’ Baden said. ‘Chancellor Zimpher spent nearly $1 million, half of it from taxpayer funds, on an audit riddled with innuendo that caused enormous damage to coach Broadus.’
Norris stated that Broadus has current obligations to a desk job and that interim head coach Mark Macon will remain as interim head coach.
‘Coach Broadus has a performance program for the 2010-11 academic year that he has agreed to and signed off on,’ he said. ‘He will continue in that performance program. We do have a basketball coach in place, and that’s coach Macon, and coach Macon will be our men’s basketball coach for the foreseeable future.’
The rhetoric in Magrath and Norris’ Monday afternoon meeting with press was thick with the phrase ‘foreseeable future,’ but Magrath was clear on one point.
‘We can use indefinite future or whatever, but for the term ahead, whatever that is ‘ Mark Macon is going to be our head coach,’ Magrath said. ‘Mr. Broadus will not be coaching basketball at Binghamton University.’
When asked if that meant Broadus will never coach Binghamton men’s basketball team again, Magrath said, ‘I think that’s a fair reading.’
Although there have been conversations regarding a possible settlement between Broadus and the University, Magrath insisted nothing was imminent.
‘I will just say that there have been discussions, but there is nothing to report, because if I had something to report, I’d report it, but I don’t,’ he said.
Should Broadus be approached by another school regarding a coaching opportunity, University officials would be willing to discuss that issue with Broadus.
Magrath said he did not want to speculate on Broadus’ future.
‘I will just say that were Mr. Broadus, who is a talented coach, [to] come and bring something up, we would obviously have a conversation. But I don’t want to predict anything,’ Magrath said.
Magrath noted that the team will definitely play in this season’s America East tournament. The University removed the team from last year’s tournament, a decision that Norris did not agree with at the time. Norris said he understood why it was done, but he stood by his disapproval of the decision.
Magrath also reiterated that Macon will retain his interim title, citing that his own title as interim president makes it inappropriate for him to appoint Macon as the permanent head coach.
Norris said he is excited for the future of the program.
‘Mark Macon did a tremendous, tremendous job through such adversity and he was able to attract, recruit and sign three absolutely top-notch young men in our freshmen class,’ Norris said. ‘This news today will start to give us the light at the end of the tunnel and the best of times are going to be coming.’