Alabama fired baseball coach Brad Bohannon after he was found to be involved in gambling activities in Ohio related to Friday’s LSU-Alabama game, two people briefed on the investigation said. official said. athletic.
The university announced Thursday that Bohannon was fired for “violating the standards, duties, and responsibilities expected of a university employee.” A person familiar with the investigation said there was no evidence that athletes were involved.
Athletic director Greg Byrne has initiated the dismissal process, and Alabama will not provide further comment due to an “ongoing review,” according to a statement issued by the school.
Bohannon’s dismissal comes days after reports that Ohio’s gaming regulator had instructed sportsbooks to stop betting on baseball games in Alabama. ESPN got the text of the emergency order It was sent to Ohio Sportsbooks regarding “suspicious gambling behavior” during last Friday’s game against LSU. NOLA.com later reported Two questionable bets made in Cincinnati, both of which triggered the alert, were LSU winning the game.
Ronnie Johns, chairman of the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, said his organization received an email this weekend from US Integrity warning of heavy betting on games in Alabama and LSU. said. Johns said his organization confirmed that no one from his LSU was involved and found no evidence that anyone from the Tigers played any part.
Johns said it was important for regulators and teams to act quickly when questionable bets were made. “The system worked,” Johns said. “We must protect the integrity of sports betting or the system will collapse.”
On Wednesday, New Jersey sportsbooks joined Ohio by banning betting on Alabama baseball games.Thursday morning, Pennsylvania sportsbooks also banned betting on Alabama baseball games. bottom.
The game in question was the first of a three-game series in Baton Rouge between Alabama and LSU, the consensus No. 1 team in the country.Hours before the game, Alabama starting pitcher with scratches Luke Holman started right-handed Hagan Banks in his place because of a strained back. The Crimson Tide trailed 8-1 after seven innings and recovered with five runs in the final two frames, but third baseman Colby Shelton stole runners in the first and second to lose 8-6. LSU was very popular in games.
Alabama has recorded a winning season in each of its last five seasons under Bohannon, going 30-15 this season, going 9-12 in SEC play, and tied for third in the SEC West. The Crimson Tide is scheduled to host Vanderbilt on Thursday night.
Pitching coach Jason Jackson will serve as interim head coach.
SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said in a statement Thursday afternoon, “The University of Alabama has taken swift action after information about its baseball sports betting activity was questioned by industry regulators.” Ensuring the integrity of sports competition is our top priority, and to that end, the SEC monitors gambling activity through our relationship with US Integrity, and has been doing so since 2018. .
“Any activity that calls into question the integrity of the competition should never be tolerated. We have been in contact with the university through its ongoing review and have no further comment at this time.”
(Photo: Jonathan Myles/Cal Sport Media via AP Images)
