What looked to be the start of a promising career in his hometown University of Evansville has ended in disaster, with former Boston Celtics player and assistant coach Walter McCarty having been fired by the school on Jan. 21.
McCarty, who began the second season of his tenure as head coach of Evansville’s Men’s Basketball program with a win over top-ranked Kentucky, soon fell from grace as the school opened investigations into allegations of inappropriate behavior.
While details over what exactly that behavior was are still unclear, we know the school issued the McCarty warnings for Title IX violations, a serious category of offenses including gender- or sex- based discrimination, harassment or sexual violence.
The school issued a statement after the firing, stating (per the Evansville Courier-Press’ Chad Lindskog):
“There is no place at UE for any behavior by any University employee or student that jeopardizes the safety and security of others … While the investigation of potential Title IX violations will continue under University policies, UE has decided that, based on the facts uncovered thus far, it is necessary to terminate Mr. McCarty’s employment immediately.”
The school quickly moved to replace McCarty with Todd Lickliter, a former assistant who temporarily left the program due to an accident, reports Lindskog.
McCarty was just starting the second season of a five-year contract after going 11-21 in his first season, and 9-4 this one before he was placed on leave.
