La Salle men’s and women’s basketball coaches resign amid rape investigation

PHILADELPHIA (AP) – La Salle University basketball coaches Billy Hahn and John Miller have resigned amid two separate rape investigations involving players on the men’s team, school officials announced Saturday.

Hahn, the men’s coach, and Miller, the women’s coach, were placed on administrative leave July 6. That move came after an investigation that yielded rape charges against former players Michael Cleaves and Gary Neal, and a separate claim by a former women’s player who said she was sexually assaulted by a men’s team player but was discouraged from telling police by La Salle coaches.

“This is a complex situation and not a judgment on the personal character of the coaches, but the university’s policies and procedures are clear,” Brother Michael J. McGinniss, president of La Salle University, said in a statement Saturday. “When it comes to the safety of our students and our community, there is no room for personal interpretation of our rules.”

The coaches did not attend the news conference, but in a telephone interview Miller denied any wrongdoing and said his resignation was a mutual agreement he had with the university.

“I in no way discouraged one of my players from going forward publicly with any kind of rape allegation,” Miller said.

When the former player came to him confidentially, Miller said, he told her he would do anything to help her and also asked her to seek counseling at the university.

“She did not want any of this to become public at the time,” he said.

Miller said he has a long-standing policy of helping players with their personal problems.

“I feel a coach is also a counselor and my players always know my door is open and if they close the door, they can rest assured I will keep things in confidence if they want them kept in confidence,” he said.

Hahn’s attorney, Nicholas Nastasi, confirmed Hahn’s resignation, but declined further comment Saturday. He said his client will hold a news conference next week to discuss his future.

A nonprofit watchdog group, Security on Campus, has filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education alleging the university improperly handled sexual assault complaints under the federal Jeanne Clery Act, which requires that schools help students who report crime get in touch with authorities.

Miller and Hahn’s attorney said they had not been contacted by officials from the Department of Education. La Salle spokesman Jon Caroulis said the school had no comment.

Cleaves, 22, of Paterson, N.J., and Neal, 19, of Baltimore, face charges of rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, sexual assault, unlawful restraint and other charges as the result of an alleged incident June 24 in which a University of New Haven women’s player claimed she was raped at an on-campus party.

The 19-year-old woman had been working at a youth basketball camp run by Miller.

DNA evidence matched samples taken from both players, police said.

Both men turned themselves into police earlier this month and are no longer enrolled at the university, according to school officials.

School officials said no determination about the future of the programs would be made until next week. Assistant coaches directed both teams while Hahn and Miller were on leave.

Hahn had compiled a 37-53 record at La Salle and was hired after helping his alma mater, Maryland, reach the national semifinals of the NCAA tournament in 2001. Last season, the Explorers finished 10-20 and 5-11 in the Atlantic 10.

Miller had completed his 18th season as the women’s coach with a 317-203 record over that time including a 15-13 record last season. His .610 winning percentage is second all-time at La Salle.

AP-ES-07-24-04 1723EDT