Press Conference (old thread for Jim O'Brien)

[smitty03]

The player never signed with OSU they are reporting Nixon.

[3yardsandacloud]

From our friends at Bucknuts:

O'Brien Out As Men's Basketball Coach
By Bucknuts.com Staff**
Date: Jun 8, 2004

Ohio State has fired men's basketball head coach Jim O'Brien, reportedly due to improper benefits provided to a player.

Ohio State has fired men's basketball head coach Jim O'Brien, multiple media sources and Bucknuts.com sources report.

ESPN.com reports that O'Brien was notified of his firing by letter. In a release provided by O'Brien's lawyer James Zeszutek, O'Brien provided details of the dismissal.

"I am advised that my firing is because I was asked to and tried to give assistance to a young man's family who was in dire financial straits," the release stated. "The assistance in no way influenced the young man in his decision to attend OSU, and, indeed, the young man did not enroll at OSU."

Bucknuts.com will provide more details of this breaking story throughout the day.


Bucknuts Link

[gregorylee]

He did sign but the NCAA denied him due to being payed to play on club teams in Europe.

[RugbyBuck]

Sounds to me like Izzy and Ira got a better hearing/treatment than OB. He did an enormous amount of good for the team and school. I'd like to think he'd be treated well, even if ultimately fired.

I like the Cleamons suggestion. Knight has done a pretty impressive job with TT. I don't think he's completely spent yet.

[DaytonBuck]

Boban got illegal benifits too. Remember we don't know the whole picture. Geiger was a real pro Obie guy so I gotta think this whole thing is very serious.

[OSUsushichic]

from NBC4 Columbus:

O'Brien Fired At Ohio State
Geiger: Recruiting Allegations Cited

POSTED: 1:50 pm EDT June 8, 2004
UPDATED: 3:24 pm EDT June 8, 2004

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State men's basketball coach Andy Geiger announced Tuesday that head basketball coach Jim O'Brien was fired.

Associate head coach Rick Boyages was named the interim head coach until a permanent replacement is named.

At an afternoon news conference, Geiger mentioned that O'Brien (pictured, left) was given the choice to resign or be fired. Geiger mentioned numerous allegations in the Columbus Serbian community against O'Brien involving former Buckeye guard Boban Savovic. Also, O'Brien mentioned a possible recruiting allegation that occurred involving former Ohio State recruit Alex Radojevic. "We feel this action is appropriate based on these admitted facts even though the lawsuit involving Boban Savovic continues," Geiger said. "We will cooperate fully with the NCAA until this investigation is complete."

O'Brien left Boston College -- his alma mater -- in 1997 to coach at Ohio State. He led the Buckeyes to five consecutive postseason tournaments and back-to-back championship games in the annual Big Ten postseason tournament.

His greatest accomplishment at Ohio State was leading the Buckeyes to college basketball's Final Four in 1999.

The Buckeyes struggled this past season and failed to make postseason play.

Watch NewsChannel 4 and refresh nbc4columbus.com for additional information.

[Oh8ch]

Having listened to Geiger I am backing off my initial anger at the way Obie was treated.

The payment was made 5 years ago and was only revealed to Geiger when it became apparent to Obie that it would come out in an investigation of potential improper benevits provided to Bobon. Obie should 1) never have considered such a payment, 2) been open about it much earlier, and 3) provided any details to Geiger prior to this point. Further,