Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe ATHENS, Ga., March 5 (UPI) -- Assistant coach Jim Harrick Jr. has become the first casualty of the controversy swirling around the Georgia basketball program. Georgia issued a statement Wednesday saying that it will not renew the contract of Harrick Jr., the son of Bulldogs Coach Jim Harrick. Harrick Jr. was suspended last Friday due to allegations that he provided improper benefits and academic assistance to former Georgia point guard Tony Cole. Advertisement Georgia Athletics Director Vince Dooley said Harrick Jr. is an "at will" employee and, as such, serves at the pleasure of the athletic director. His contract expires on June 30. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Wednesday that Harrick Jr. resigned in the wake of the alleged improprieties. The younger Harrick told the newspaper he resigned, effective immediately, to alleviate distractions to the team. The controversy began last Thursday when Cole alleged that Harrick Jr. paid for his hotel and phone bills and gave him an 'A' in a course that Harrick Jr. taught and Cole never attended. Cole also claimed that Harrick Jr. arranged for someone other than Cole to do course work in two junior college correspondence courses. Advertisement The scandal widened Saturday when Cole alleged that Harrick Sr. gave him his credit card to purchase a television. Harrick Jr. has not commented on the charges, which his father has denied. Amid the turmoil, the 25th-ranked Bulldogs (18-8) defeated third-ranked Florida, 82-81, Tuesday in their final home game of the season. The victory improved Georgia's chances of receiving an at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament if it does not win the Southeastern Conference tournamnet.
