Former Detroit Mercy Assistant Angry Over Firing

Detroit Free Press

http://www.freep.com/article/20121206/SPORTS08/312060236/Ex-Detroit-Mercy-assistant-basketball-coach-cries-foul-over-firing

Former Detroit Mercy assistant basketball coach Carlos Briggs charged Wednesday that he was wrongfully fired in an effort by the university “to cover up the misconduct of others in the athletic department”—after he brought the allegations to the school’s attention.

Briggs, who made his accusations in a statement he e-mailed to several media outlets, did not provide details of the alleged wrongdoing or when it might have taken place, only that he first reported it to school officials in August.

When reached by the Free Press, Briggs would not comment further.

Briggs, in his sixth season at Detroit Mercy, did not mention names in his statement, but wrote that “on Oct. 31 the wrongdoers in the athletic department who were the subject of my August disclosure were separated from service of the university.”

That’s the day UDM announced that athletic director Keri Gaither and assistant basketball coach Derek Thomas had resigned, effective immediately, to pursue other interests. UDM announced the resignations in separate releases.

Briggs said he was fired the following day. The school kept his name and profile on the basketball team’s Web page until Wednesday afternoon, replaced by “TBA” under a list of assistant coaches.

Former Detroit Mercy Assistant Angry Over Firing

Detroit Free Press

http://www.freep.com/article/20121206/SPORTS08/312060236/Ex-Detroit-Mercy-assistant-basketball-coach-cries-foul-over-firing

Former Detroit Mercy assistant basketball coach Carlos Briggs charged Wednesday that he was wrongfully fired in an effort by the university “to cover up the misconduct of others in the athletic department”—after he brought the allegations to the school’s attention.

Briggs, who made his accusations in a statement he e-mailed to several media outlets, did not provide details of the alleged wrongdoing or when it might have taken place, only that he first reported it to school officials in August.

When reached by the Free Press, Briggs would not comment further.

Briggs, in his sixth season at Detroit Mercy, did not mention names in his statement, but wrote that “on Oct. 31 the wrongdoers in the athletic department who were the subject of my August disclosure were separated from service of the university.”

That’s the day UDM announced that athletic director Keri Gaither and assistant basketball coach Derek Thomas had resigned, effective immediately, to pursue other interests. UDM announced the resignations in separate releases.

Briggs said he was fired the following day. The school kept his name and profile on the basketball team’s Web page until Wednesday afternoon, replaced by “TBA” under a list of assistant coaches.