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Basketball coaches at two colleges put on administrative leave
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More from Breaking NewsBasketball coaches at Ventura and Oxnard Colleges were placed on administrative leave today and told to have no contact with their players, school officials said.
The action came six months after the Ventura County Community College District opened an investigation of the Ventura College men's basketball program and three months after that inquiry was "extended" to Oxnard College. The investigation is looking into issues of eligibility of players at the schools.
Former Ventura College men's basketball Greg Winslow, Ventura College assistant coach Jon Wyers and Oxnard College men's basketball coach Jeff Theiler were told to stay off campus and have no contact with their student-athletes for the indefinite duration of the investigation.
Locksmiths changed the locks to the basketball offices at both schools.
"At this point, it seems appropriate as the investigation has gone forward," said district chancellor James Meznek. "We believe it is appropriate to protect our employees, students and the district by these measures."
Ventura College president Robin Calote, Patricia Parham, the district's associate chancellor for human resources, and Walter Johnson, the investigator hired by the district, met Wyers in the Ventura basketball office early Monday morning and informed him of the change in his status.
"I saw them coming down the stairs and said, 'That can't be good,' " said Terry Morris, the chairman of Ventura's physical education department.
According to the coaches, Winslow and Theiler spoke to Parham by phone around 9:30 a.m. Both were asked to come on campus as soon as possible to meet with Johnson and school officials.
"I'm supposed to call them back so I can get into my office," said Winslow.
Winslow missed his 1 p.m. meeting with Calote and Johnson. An hour later, he was seen putting the contents of his office into two large cardboard boxes.
Ventura is scheduled to hold its annual end-of-season banquet Wednesday night at Poinsettia Pavilion in Ventura.
After Monday's events, neither of its coaches will be allowed to attend.
"This is how this whole thing has been from the beginning," said Winslow.
Theiler said he was to meet Johnson and Lyn MacConnaire, Oxnard's acting executive vice president, this afternoon.
"I don't know the definition of administrative leave," said Theiler, who was an assistant coach at Ventura until he was hired at Oxnard for this season.
Parham and Claire Geisen, the district's public information officer, didn't immediately return phone calls.
Posted by Face on April 21, 2008 at 6:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I wonder how many qualified kids couldn't play so that the non-qualified ones could. I wonder what else is involved. I wonder why everyday I see another person of trust violating rules and regulations for personal gain.
Posted by Tom_Johnston on April 21, 2008 at 10:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have to wonder...how much money is thrown away in these programs..while we can't accept but a fraction of qualified Nursing school (and other allied Health Care profession) candidates to be trained into careers that are actually useful for society.
Not just "big league" ambitions, but hospitals and clinics around Ventura County.
Shouldn't our local money be spent to prepare people for real careers....hopefully in our towns?? ...not just some out of town yahoo who MIGHT be a pro ball draft pic someday?
Seems to me that Community College education in Ventura County needs a smack upside the head!
Posted by Brownpride on April 21, 2008 at 10:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Bounce bounce bounce bounce bounce. Its not a game its life! Bounce bounce bounce.
Posted by StarletPhoenix on April 22, 2008 at 7:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Keep in mind, being a junior college, scholarships can not be offered to the basketball players at Ventura College. There is not much money given to the program to start with at all. Most must be fundraised and locally sponsored. These funds pay for uniforms, buses, meals on away games and other related expenses.
That said, it is unfair to say one person seeking education for another career field is left out because the money is geared more towards the athletic program. Simply untrue.
One has to wonder how Wyers is involved. Chronologically, he did not arrive at Ventura College until August of last year. Before then, he was assistant coach for the Allan Hanc--- basketball team. The players in question were freshman last year. It does not logically make sense they would have Wyers take a leave as well because it is so obvious he was not an employee of Ventura College at the time these allegations supposedly occurred.
Throw everything out to the side - where is the team at now?
Ventura College basketball as at a critical point. If any remaining freshman from this year's team have not yet decided whether to return for next year, certainly there will be thoughts flowing now.
The current players now have no leadership, no guidance. Some are sophomores looking to move on to higher education. Robert Wright, Brandon Dixon - 2 eligible, talented young men who should move up. At this time they cannot be seen because there is no one for the basketball program to be at Ventura for these players to get signed. Game tapes are not being sent out because there is no one to make them. Other players are still freshman who need the motivation and guidance to get registered for next fall's classes. Pepe Araujo, Kevin Menner, Eric Gray, Dee Pinkard, Will Faiivae and others.
In the meantime, there are no players or sponsors getting recruited for next year's team. There is no coach, and 2 of the 5 people interviewed for the job last week are now on administrative leave.
The drama does not end at the court, nor does it end at the program. Who is affected most of all? These kids who were pulled into the whole thing, and left stranded.
This does not even touch the future of Ventura College men's basketball. There may not even BE a program at all next year, and that will be very sad indeed for all innocent players, coaches, and fans.
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