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 Gophers fallout continues Minnesota fires hoops team's academic counselor
Posted: Friday June 18, 1999 06:16 PM
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- A key figure in the academic fraud investigation of the Minnesota men's basketball team was fired Friday for not helping with the inquiry. Alonzo Newby, the team's academic counselor, has steadfastly refused to talk to investigators, invoking his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. He was fired for "refusing to cooperate with independent investigators ... and for participating in violation of NCAA rules," the university said in a statement. It did not specify which NCAA rules were violated, and Mark Rotenberg, the school's general counsel, said investigators were only examining Newby's role in possible rules violations. "These are allegations ... and again, Mr. Newby made a choice not to answer even the most basic questions about these allegations," Rotenberg said. Newby's testimony could have clarified what role coach Clem Haskins had in alleged improprieties in the basketball program. Newby allegedly gave $3,000 in cash to Jan Gangelhoff, the former academic counseling office manager from Danbury, Wis., who said she wrote more than 400 papers for players from 1993 to 1998. Gangelhoff has said the money was from Haskins. Gangelhoff has described Newby's job as doing "whatever it took to keep kids eligible." She also said Newby edited some of the first papers she wrote for players. Newby, academic counselor since 1992, went on medical leave in April. He will remain on paid leave until Monday, his final day of employment. Sandra Gardebring, the university's vice president for institutional relations, said Newby would have been entitled to around $30,000 in severance pay if he cooperated with the investigation and his year-to-year contract was not renewed. She called the package standard for an employee of Newby's position and seniority. But because Newby was terminated with cause, he will receive no severance pay, Rotenberg said. Newby's lawyer, Ron Rosenbaum, said his client has no plans to reveal what he knows, and he's not considering a lawsuit. Newby was expecting the firing, but still was disappointed and feels "isolated, alienated, lonely and abandoned," Rosenbaum said. "These are the people he spent a lot of years with, people in the athletic department, and he's taken the fall," the lawyer said. Rotenberg said officials still hope to persuade Newby to meet with investigators, but the inquiry will continue with or without Newby's cooperation. "We have over 100 witnesses to talk to. No single person will be able to stop the truth from coming out," Rotenberg said. The university has been negotiating with Haskins' attorney to buy out the coach's contract. Rotenberg said those negotiations are continuing "in a businesslike manner." The coach's contract contains an unusual clause that allows him to receive $423,000 in deferred compensation even if he is terminated with just cause. If just cause cannot be shown, Haskins would be entitled to almost $1.2 million, plus benefits. Haskins has maintained his innocence and said he hopes to return as coach next season. He is expected to talk with investigators next week.
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