ITHACA, N.Y. (AP) — Cornell University has fired men's lacrosse coach Ben DeLuca, two months after the season was canceled because of hazing.
Athletic director Andy Noel says new leadership is required. Assistant coach Matt Kerwick will serve as the interim coach.
The college announced the cancellation in September after an investigation determined upperclassmen had hazed freshman players who were made to drink beer to the point where some vomited.
Last year, a university fraternity was found guilty of hazing in the alcohol poisoning death of a Cornell student. Authorities said a 19-year-old sophomore from Brooklyn died after drinking too much alcohol during a hazing ritual.
In three seasons under DeLuca, a former Cornell player and assistant coach, the team went 37-11 overall and 16-2 in the Ivy League.
9 comments
this article is completely false. How can lacrosse playground post this with so many glaring errors
Big Red’s comment is actually very correct. Last summer, DeLuca was advised to interview for the Georgetown job. He has been on thin ice for the past two seasons after upsetting several players and their families with his coaching tactics. These go beyond who starts and who doesn’t—we’re talking the way he would present himself at team banquets, to alumni, etc. He was a winning coach, but among players and within the program, he made many mistakes that upset many people. Sounds like the hazing incident pushed him over the edge.
The alcohol-related hazing death was 3 years ago, not last year. It’s also not a knee-jerk reaction if they did it months after the fact. Sad to see Coach DeLuca go.
First of all, this article says that the teams season was cancelled. This statement is very false. In reality the team was “suspended” for less than a week, and after that they were not allowed to play in one fall event, and that is the extent of the punishment. Keep in mind this was all over an incident that probably happens at every division 1 college campus in the fall.
Anyone who believes that DeLuca was fired solely because of the hazing scandal this past fall is simply ill-informed about the situation. In fact, I believe the scandal really had nothing to do with it.
First of all, this article says that the teams season was cancelled. This statement is very false. In reality the team was “suspended” for less than a week, and after that they were not allowed to play in one fall event, and that is the extent of the punishment. Keep in mind this was all over an incident that probably happens at every division 1 college campus in the fall.
Anyone who believes that DeLuca was fired solely because of the hazing scandal this past fall is simply ill-informed about the situation. In fact, I believe the scandal really had nothing to do with it.