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[/insert_php]Bethune-Cookman University has fired head men’s basketball coach Clifford Reed, following the team’s best season in 30 years.
In a three-sentence statement released on Monday evening, the university stated the decision to fire Reed was made, “following an internal administrative review.”
When reached by phone Reed said that his termination letter, signed by BC-U President Dr. Trudie Kibbe Reed, stated he was fired, “for refusing to cooperate with a university investigation and insubordination.”
According to the Daytona News-Journal, which obtained and printed a copy of the letter, it reads: “Please be advised that the University has decided not to offer you a new employment contract as head men’s basketball coach, and your employment as head men’s basketball coach is terminated effective immediately. This decision is based on your failure to cooperate and insubordination with respect to the University’s investigation into allegations against the University and its men’s basketball program.”
Reed, 46, said he received the letter after being asked to attend a meeting in the BC-U human resources office with, among others, athletic director Lynn Thompson.
“I don’t know why I was terminated. The lack of cooperation and insubordination is what [the letter] said,” Reed said.
A subsequent email released by Bethune-Cookman on Tuesday stated, “Any questions involving coach Clifford Reed are personnel matters and are under investigation, therefore university officials cannot comment publicly at this time.”
Reed’s termination speaks to a somewhat unsettling pattern of long-tenured coaches leaving Daytona Beach recently. Just a few weeks ago, Bethune graduate and longtime head baseball coach Mervyl Melendez left some in the MEAC baseball community scratching their heads as he opted to leave the six-time defending conference champions to take over the program at Alabama State University. Even Melendez acknowledged that the move was a “leap”, but one he hopes will “take [his career] to a new level”. And in 2009 another alumnus and the winningest football coach in school history, Alvin Wyatt, was let go in similar fashion after Bethune-Cookman refused to renew his contract. Wyatt filed suit against the university in May 2010 for breach of contract, but the case is pending.
Reed, meanwhile, coached last year without a contract and he recently turned down an offer from the university.
“I was not shocked, I may have been surprised,” said Reed, a 1991 graduate of then Bethune-Cookman College, of his termination. “I love what I’ve done and what I do and God has another chapter for me.”
Reed, who had just completed his ninth full season as head coach, led the Wildcats to a 21-13 overall record, its best in 30 years. Bethune-Cookman won the MEAC regular-season title with a 13-3 mark and was invited to the postseason NIT, where they lost to Virginia Tech.
Reed was named the MEAC coach of the year and his son, C.J., was named Boxtorow.com Division I National Player of the Year.
Coach Reed compiled a 125-166 record over 10 seasons. He took over for Horace Broadnax who resigned during the 2001-02 season.
C.J., meanwhile, recently participated in the Deron Williams Skills Academy in Chicago where father said son “held his own”. Camp invitees include the top 10 collegiate point guards in the country.
C.J.’s future is unclear but Coach Reed said, “There have already been three mid-major (to high-major programs) who are interested in him.”