Coach suspended
Stacy Johnson-Klein may have violated university policies, athletics says
By NATHAN HATHAWAY / The Collegian
Fresno State women’s basketball coach Stacy Johnson-Klein has been placed on paid administrative leave by the university pending the outcome of an investigation by the athletic department.
Athletic director Scott Johnson announced the decision to suspend Johnson-Klein on Wednesday, saying in a news release that the university has received reports of “several serious problems that may violate university policy.”
Suspended Fresno State women's basketball coach, Stacy Johnson-Klein filed a sexual harassment complaint against a member of the university athletics department before she was suspended. Photo by Joseph Hollak |
According to the news release, none of the violations are believed to constitute major NCAA violations, though “there are potentially two secondary infractions which will be immediately reported to the NCAA.”
Associate athletic director and women’s basketball supervisor Randy Welniak said the release indicated violations of both university and NCAA policies.
Johnson did not return phone calls to his office Thursday, and mum is the word among university and athletic department officials.
University president John Welty released another statement Thursday saying “out of respect for individuals involved in this process, the university will not be providing any information or comment about the issue until the review is complete.”
Assistant athletic director Steve Weakland said there is currently no timetable for the outcome of the department’s investigation, though Johnson’s release says “the review will be conducted as quickly as possible.”
“I’ve heard they want to get this thing done immediately,” women’s basketball sports information director Brian Risso said.
The announcement comes on the heels of an incident at a Ruston, La. restaurant in which Johnson-Klein left without fully paying the bill. The situation, which took place last Wednesday, was later resolved when the restaurant’s owner showed up at the Bulldogs’ practice at the Thomas Assembly Center, where Fresno State was to play Louisiana Tech the next day. The Shreveport (La.) Times, which originally reported the incident in Tuesday’s edition, said restaurant owner Chris Garrig showed up to Fresno State’s practice with Ruston police.
According to comments made by Johnson-Klein in Wednesday’s Fresno Bee, no police were involved in the incident.
“The restaurant thing is kind of just a he-said, she-said at this point,” Risso said.
Garrig declined to comment when asked about the incident.
Johnson-Klein was unavailable for comment Thursday.
Johnson-Klein, in her third year at Fresno State, came in and turned around a struggling women’s basketball program.
She led the Bulldogs to a 21-13 record and an appearance in the quarterfinals of the Women’s National Invitation Tournament in her first year at Fresno State. It was the first time in five years Fresno State had posted a winning record and was a 12-game turnaround from the previous season.
Through Saturday’s win at SMU, Johnson-Klein is 47-36, good for fourth all-time in wins among Fresno State women’s coaches.
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