New Mexico football coach Mike Locksley was suspended for one game and will be on unpaid leave for 10 days for his role in an altercation with an assistant coach last month, the school announced Tuesday afternoon.Locksley will be suspended for the Oct. 24 game against UNLV and will not be allowed to have anything to do with the team in the week leading up to the Mountain West game. The suspension brings to an end the off-the-field turmoil surrounding Locksley and the 0-6 Lobos for weeks.
In addition to the confrontation with wide receivers coach J.B. Gerald Sept. 20 in the coaches offices, Locksley was also under fire because of a sexual harassment/age discrimation claim filed with the EEOC by a long-time office worker. The school announced on Monday that claim had been resolved, though a resolution had been in place days earlier.
When reached earlier Tuesday about the possibility of a suspension, Locksley told FanHouse he was unaware of any forthcoming announcement. But later that day, athletic director Paul Krebs announced the one-game suspension.
"I've been getting a lot of calls from people asking me this and that, but nobody has said anything to me," Locksley said early Tuesday. "I guess we will see."
Locksley has been under investigation by the university the last two weeks in connection with a physical confrontation he had with Gerald, a longtime friend Locksley brought with him from Illinois where he had been the offensive coordinator. The assistant claimed in a police report that Locksley punched him in the face, a claim the head coach denies.
Locksley was originally given a warning and letter of reprimand by athletics director Paul Krebs for the Sept. 20 incident that took place in the coaches offices a day after the Lobos lost to Air Force. But feeling pressure from the community, the UNM Human Resource department picked up the investigation more than a week and half after the incident.
Gerald has not returned to the team since the incident and it's unclear what his future is with the school.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-14-2009 @ 8:43AM
Ralph Garcia said...
It sounds like someone hasn't been taking his bipolar/manic depressive medication? Why do they deny it and then go on a rage attack? 0-6 Lobos, they should suit up Locksley as quarterback so when the other team blitzes, he'll get his due.
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10-14-2009 @ 10:54AM
ppalamo40 said...
The statement from athletic director Paul Krebs and university president David Schmidly: "We stand behind Coach Locksley and know that he has performed and continues to perform his job in a professional and respectable manner and will do so in the future." Is nothing but a FARCE! That’s how Schmidly sweeps “troublemakers” and institutional problems under the UNM carpet. First Krebs doesn’t know the UNM policies on workplace violence and gives this clown a verbal reprimand with a letter in his personnel file. Then when people are outraged the UNM human resources department starts an investigation. Assault and Battery; Age Discrimination Charges when will someone admit Locksley does not set a good example for our students nor the UNM staff.
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10-14-2009 @ 11:28AM
highlandfd said...
The guy sexually harasses an employee, punches a member of his staff, and hasn't won a game. If he was white, he'd be gone. Lobos suck!
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10-14-2009 @ 3:52PM
williamjones11 said...
Although, it stated in one of the articles a police officer observed the split lip; Locksley and Krebs are still trying to conceal the assault. "It was a heated argument with some grabbing, pushing and shoving," Locksley said. "I did not throw a punch." He gets a 1 game suspension; ten days without pay and will be required to attend conflict resolution training. You mean that he was hired and given $750,000 a year plus bonuses and he doesn’t know how to handle conflict! (Athletic Director Paul Krebs and University President David Schmidly should be fired right along with Locksley) When a player hits a player on another team who was taunting him got suspended for the entire season!
On top of that absurdity they play the race card: Locksley, is one of seven African-American head coaches at FBS schools. What does that have to do with the punishment; who gives a damn if he is purple and orange this was a bad hire; 0-6---- this clown can not led the team to victory he is too screwed up in the head. Obviously the team does not believe in him or his leadership style and morale is at an all time low.
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10-14-2009 @ 4:45PM
bbburns50 said...
Paul Krebs is taking the easy way out. He hired a loser as a coach who cannot compel his team to win, manage his coaches, and work with his support staff. It is really disappointing to have a man who will continue to preach to these young men when it is not being practiced. Also hire the next guy based on their qualification as a coach race should not factor into the hiring or firing of coaches in away. Locksley should have never been hired.
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