Alabama fires head baseball coach Brad Bohannon after gambling scandal, lawsuit
The University of Alabama has fired baseball coach Brad Bohannon, according to a statement released Thursday.
In the past week, Alabama baseball has been the center of a gambling scandal, as multiple states have banned legal sportsbooks from accepting bets on the Crimson Tide, citing suspicious activity in Alabama's 8-6 loss to LSU last Friday.
Later Thursday, sources confirmed to the Tuscaloosa News that Bohannon was directly involved in the bets placed in Ohio. That state banned bets on the Crimson Tide on Monday, with New Jersey following on Wednesday. Other states are monitoring the situation.
Earlier this season, one of his former players alleged mistreatment in a lawsuit that named him and two assistants.
BETS OFF THE BOARD: New Jersey stops bets on Alabama baseball, joining Ohio, per ESPN
NEXT COACH? Who will replace Brad Bohannon? Here's some head coaching targets for Alabama baseball.
'ZERO TOLERANCE': Greg Sankey comments on Alabama baseball gambling scandal
"Alabama director of athletics Greg Byrne announced he has initiated the termination process for head baseball coach Brad Bohannon for, among other things, violating the standards, duties, and responsibilities expected of University employees," the statement said.
After Alabama's decision, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey released a statement, saying that, "Ensuring the integrity of athletic competition is our highest priority, and for that purpose the SEC monitors gambling activity through its relationship with US Integrity and has done so since 2018. There must be zero tolerance for activity that puts into question the integrity of competition."
Bohannon was in the midst of his sixth season as the Crimson Tide's head coach since being hired away from Auburn after the 2017 season. He went 166-124 in his tenure with the Crimson Tide, but only 48-91 in SEC play. Bohannon took Alabama to the 2021 NCAA Tournament, where it was eliminated in regional play.
Pitching coach Jason Jackson will serve as interim coach.
Alabama (30-15, 9-12 SEC) begins a three-game series at home Thursday night against Vanderbilt (33-11, 16-5).
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama fires baseball coach Brad Bohannon after gambling scandal, lawsuit
