Paul Corsaro denies allegations that led to firing as IU Indy men's basketball coach
INDIANAPOLIS — Paul Corsaro issued a statement late Tuesday denying allegations made against him that led to his firing as IU Indy men's basketball coach, stating that he and his staff instead "fostered a strong culture" that led to building a "solid foundation for our program."
Corsaro, 36, had completed his first season leading the Jaguars to a 10-22 record and a 6-14 mark in the Horizon League. But that record marked significant improvement for a program that had not won double digit games since going 16-17 in 2018-19 under Jason Gardner.
He previously had a successful four-year run at the University of Indianapolis that included a 68-25 record over his last three seasons with back-to-back NCAA Division II tournament appearances and consecutive Great Lakes Valley Conference regular season titles.
But after his first season with the Jaguars, he became the subject of an investigation after Rex Elliott, a lawyer out of the Columbus, Ohio-based Cooper Elliott Law Firm, filed the complaint to IU Indy on behalf of the six families. The complaint cites 'Our concerns regarding the IU Indianapolis men's basketball program extend far beyond the normal challenges or demands of student-athlete life and into abuse both physically, emotionally, and an environment of intimidation, bullying, retaliation, and fear.'
The news: Paul Corsaro fired as IU Indy basketball coach after investigation
Corsaro denied those allegations and alleged the university violated the terms of his contract.
'The university's decision today is deeply disheartening," Corsaro told IndyStar. "I vehemently deny the alleged mistreatment of student athletes and will vigorously defend the reputation I have worked tirelessly to build.
'I am extremely disappointed that the university issued a statement this morning without having first being afforded the opportunity to file a written appeal, as per the teams of my contract and which I intend to do. Despite my full cooperation with the university's process, including providing numerous documents that refuted the unfair allegations against me, the university has consistently refused to provide any documentation that initiated and substantiated these claims, even after multiple requests.
'The unwavering dedication of our student athletes and staff this past season has been instrumental in establishing a solid foundation for our program. We fostered a strong culture, the significance of which was regrettably overlooked by some. Our achievements both on the court and in the classroom this year, underscored by the impressive retention of our roster for the upcoming season, truly speak to the strength of this foundation. Over the last several weeks, I held on to my faith in the university's process and remained confident, until today, that I would have the privilege of continuing to lead the IU Indy men's basketball team. My focus now is on clearing my name and rebuilding the reputation that has been unfairly damaged.'
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