Fired VUU coach plays hardball

MICHAEL BAILEY
ATHLETIC DIRECTOR/HEAD
FOOTBALL COACH
VIRGINIA UNION UNIVERSITY

RICHMOND, Virginia - March 2011 was good for almost everyone in the local college basketball world.

But while Shaka Smart, Chris Mooney and their teams at VCU and the University of Richmond grabbed headlines as dueling Cinderellas, Willard Coker made news of a different sort.

Coker was fired as head coach of Virginia Union University men’s basketball team last year during March Madness, and now he has sued VUU for defamation and millions of dollars in damages.

The suit alleges that VUU Athletic Director Michael Bailey knew his statements to the press about Coker’s dismissal being tied to supposed recruiting issues were false when Bailey announced the hiring of Coker’s replacement at a news conference.

“The bottom line is we think Virginia Union went out of its way to throw Willard under the bus when they hired their new coach,” said Richard Hawkins, Coker’s attorney.

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Note: Why is Michael Bailey still the head football coach at VUU?  He has a career record of 14-16 (.466) over the past three seasons. With season records of 6-4, 3-7 and 5-5, athletic director Bailey should fire head football coach Bailey.

Willard Coker was fired with a 55-25 (.687) career record over three seasons.  In his first season, he lead the Panthers to a 21-7 (16-4 CIAA) record and a NCAA Division II Tournament Championship berth where they were defeated in the first round by Indiana of Pennsylvania 69-63. Coker also was defeated in the 2009 CIAA Tournament Championship game by Johnson C. Smith University, 70-63.

The Panthers bounced back with a 19-9, 12-4 CIAA record in 2009/10, but lost to Shaw University 76-70 in the 2010 CIAA Tournament.  Coker's contract was not renewed after a 15-9, 12-5 CIAA record in 2010/11, and a 2011 CIAA Tournament defeat to Livingstone College, 59-58.

As an assistant coach, Coker helped guide the Panthers to 2 National Championships, 19 NCAA Tournament Appearances and 10 CIAA Championships.  He served 23 years as an assistant coach to VUU's legendary head men's basketball coach Dave Robbins. 

Coach Robbins ended his 30 season career with a record of 713-194 (.786), including three NCAA Division II National Championships (1980, 1992, 2005); 21 NCAA Tournament Appearances; 14 CIAA Championships; 4 NCAA Division II Player of the Year; 5 NBA Stars -- Ben Wallace, Charles Oakley, Terry Davis, A.J. English and Jamie Waller.

Coach Robbins will be inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in Kansas City, Missouri on Sunday, November 18, 2012 at the Midland Theatre in Kansas City.

As a VUU player, Coker was a 4-year letter winner, capturing 2 CIAA Championships, 1 Regional Championship and 1 NCAA Division II National Championship.  Coker also won the 1975 North Carolina 4-A State Championship during his senior year in high school.

Coach Coker was replaced by his assistant coach, 30-year old Luqman Jaaber, that had two years total of coaching experience.  Jaaber ended his first season with a 15-14, 10-6 CIAA record.  The Richmond native started three seasons for the Panthers, winning the 2005 Division II National Championship and serving as team captain.  Jaaber is also a two-time CIAA Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

The $2.35 million dollar question is why 53 year-old Coach Coker has been unable to continue his coaching career with a strong resume' and proven accomplishments with a hall of fame, legendary head coach Dave Robbins as a reference?  Published articles have previously stated:

 "Coker, has long been Robbins' choice to succeed him at one of the country's most successful Division II programs.  Coker was the only coach Robbins recommended to VUU athletic director Michael Bailey." "I couldn't have hand-picked a better person than Willard Coker," Robbins said.

Something is not right with this scenario... and unfortunately, a Court may have to resolve this matter.

-beepbeep