COLUMBUS, Ohio, June 8 (UPI) -- Ohio State basketball Coach Jim O'Brien has been fired for NCAA violations that included giving a recruit money for his family in Europe, OSU announced Tuesday.
Athletic Director Andy Geiger said O'Brien told him April 24 that he gave $6,000 five years ago to a prospective Buckeye player to send to his family in Yugoslavia (now Serbia-Montenegro), and that the coach explained he was trying to help out because of a death and other problems in the family amid war conditions in their country.
The potential recruit didn't go to OSU. He was declared ineligible because he had been paid to play pro ball in Europe.
O'Brien, OSU coach for seven years, said in a statement the family was "in dire financial straits" and the money "in no way influenced the young man in his decision to attend OSU and, indeed, the young man did not enroll at OSU."
Geiger said that on May 18 Ohio State "self-reported this violation to the NCAA's enforcement staff." He said there may be "other issues" involved, but did not elaborate.
Rick Boyages, O'Brien's longtime assistant, was named interim coach.
