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Haskins: 'We're running a clean program'

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Posted: Monday May 17, 1999 07:52 PM

Good as gold: Clem Haskins states publicly that he and the Golden Gopher program are clean. Brian Bahr/Allsport

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Clem Haskins said Monday he is sorry the investigation into allegations of academic fraud in the Minnesota men's basketball program has shaken the school, then said he hasn't done anything wrong.

"We're running a clean basketball program," he said during an interview on WCCO.

The university's probe started when a former manager in the academic counseling office said she did coursework for players from 1993 to 1998.

Jan Gangelhoff claims she wrote or helped write more than 400 papers for former and current men's basketball players. She also claims Haskins provided money for her to continue tutoring a player after the academic advising office ordered her to stop.

Former player Russ Archambault has said Haskins gave him money on several occasions, a violation of NCAA rules.

While Haskins has denied those allegations, he refused to directly address the investigation during the interview.

Asked by talk show host Dark Star if he did anything wrong, Haskins said: "Well, you know, the thing is, I don't want to get into that at all, Dark. In my mind, no."

Haskins has made statements through his attorney but had not previously granted interviews on the subject.

Haskins, who has yet to be interviewed by investigators, said he has been hurt personally by the allegations. But he said he does not plan to quit and will honor his contract and continue coaching for another three or four years.

External investigators have interviewed 50 people and plan to talk with another 70, according to university officials. Investigators have reviewed thousands of documents, including analysis of data from computers in the academic counseling unit and the men's basketball office.

University officials said the investigation is expected to be wrapped up by the end of September. A report to the NCAA is expected by next spring.

 

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