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Ohio State fires Jim O'Brien

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Updated Jun 8, 2004 3:32 PM ET
     
 
Columbus, OH (Sports Network) - Ohio State University men's head basketball coach Jim O'Brien was fired Tuesday due to a violation of NCAA bylaws. The school announced that associate head coach Rick Boyages will take over for O'Brien on an interim basis. The infraction included trying to financially assist a recruit's family.

In 1998, O'Brien attempted to recruit Aleksander Radojevic from Serbia, but he became aware that the player's mother was in need of assistance. He sent the mother a financial payment of $6,000 to help her out, but Radojevic eventually decided not to attend the university and was later ruled ineligible because he had been paid to play basketball in Europe. He entered the 1999 NBA Draft and was chosen by the Toronto Raptors with the 12th pick in the first round.

O'Brien, who admitted to his wrongdoing, was notified of his firing through a letter from athletic director Andy Geiger earlier on Tuesday, but was officially dismissed during an afternoon press conference.

Geiger said he first gave O'Brien the option of resigning, but the coach refused. O'Brien and his attorney, James Zeszutek, are likely to plan legal action against the university.

"Integrity is an indispensable value to our university and to the department of athletics and a major breach of this value is intolerable," said Geiger. "Given what we have celebrated together, I deeply regret that we have come to this circumstance."

The 54-year-old O'Brien became the 12th head coach in school history prior to the 1997-98 season and guided the Buckeyes to the Final Four in the 1998-99 campaign before losing to eventual national champion Connecticut .

During his seven-year tenure with Ohio State , O'Brien compiled a 133-88 record, including leading his club to a share of the Big 10 regular season title in 1999-2000 and 2001-02. This past season, the Buckeyes were just 14-16 and 6-10 in conference play.

O'Brien has also served as the head coach of St. Bonaventure for four years and enjoyed an 11-year stint with Boston College . His career coaching mark is 368-305.

The 41-year-old Boyages spent three seasons on the Ohio State staff from 1998-2000 before taking over as the head coach at William & Mary in June of 2000. He then began his second tour of duty and fourth season with the Buckeyes as the associate head coach when he rejoined O'Brien's staff in April of 2003.
Tagged: Ohio State

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