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Clouds Linger at Ball State
Billy Taylor is introduced as men's basketball coach at Ball State. His predecessor, Ronny Thompson, resigned last month after one season.
(By Chris Bergin -- Muncie (Ind.) Star Press Via Associated Press)
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The NCAA has requested in writing that Ball State investigate allegations that Thompson gave shoes to players as a reward for good grades and that Thompson attempted to persuade another school's player to transfer to Ball State. Also under investigation, according to the NCAA letter first reported by the Muncie Star Press, is whether the school's former women's volleyball coach was fired because he reported rules violations by Thompson's coaching staff.
Ball State has retained Bond, Schoeneck & King, the Kansas-based law firm that specializes in NCAA probes. Gora said the allegations "will probably be found to be groundless, but they need to be investigated." From what he has learned about the case, Taylor said he is confident the NCAA would not place the program on probation.
The way Thompson resigned surprised both players and school officials. Senior guard Peyton Stovall said he talked to Thompson on the telephone after the resignation, and the coach said only that "things were getting rough and he didn't want to coach here anymore. That's basically all he said to me."
Collins said he has not spoken to Thompson since a few days before he received the July 12 resignation e-mail. Gora said she last spoke to Thompson on July 9, a conversation in which Thompson detailed concerns and Gora encouraged him to put them in writing.
Boosters said Thompson did not embrace those alumni and fans who most supported the program. Thurston said he has never met Thompson. Kern said Thompson showed up nearly two hours late for a booster-sponsored golf event and that one meeting of the Cardinal Varsity Club became heated when members discussed how Thompson dealt with the community.
Kern said his introduction with Thompson came in the coach's office, ending poorly. After some conversation, Kern said an assistant entered to say someone else was waiting for Thompson, who told Kern, "You've got two minutes."
Kern said Thompson treated him better only after Kern had discussed the issue with Collins. Collins said he and Thompson had discussed doing more community outreach programs, but said Thompson's focus was squarely on recruiting to build his program.
Less than an hour after Taylor's introduction, Stovall said he remembered a similar-spirited, feel-good news conference for Thompson in April 2006, but added: "I have a different feeling about Coach Taylor. I think he is the right guy for the job."
