Binghamton University athletic director Dr. Joel
Thirer has stepped down from the post amid several players being kicked off
the men's basketball team due to legal troubles.
James Norris, the school's senior associate athletic director, will replace
Thirer on an interim basis, announced school president Lois B. DeFleur.
"Recently there have been specific instances where student-athletics have not
complied with our standards, and we took immediate action," said DeFleur.
"Today, I am announcing...Dr. Joel Thirer will be stepping down as director of
health, physical education and athletics, effective immediately. He will be
assigned to the office of the provost, where he will work on projects related
to undergraduate transfer issues."
In addition, the team's head coach, Kevin Broadus, will have to provide
DeFleur with a recruitment and supervision plan for the school's basketball
program. Binghamton will also bring in an external consultant to audit the
athletic program and ensure that it is following America East and NCAA
policies and procedures.
The start of Binghamton's problems came when Emmanuel Mayben was arrested for
possession with intent to sell cocaine earlier this month. Having led the
school to its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 2009, Mayben was
immediately kicked off the team.
Just a day after Mayben was released from the program, Binghamton did the same
to Malik Alvin, Corey Chandler, Paul Crosby, David Fine and Derrick Rivera.
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