MEN'S BASKETBALL: Thompson wanted out in May
E-mails show coach was not cooperating with university officials
Ryan Wood
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An e-mail between Ball State head basketball coach Ronny Thompson and President Jo Ann Gora indicates Gora knew as early as May that Thompson wanted to resign his position.
"I understand from our earlier conversation in May, as well as our discussion today, you are requesting to be let out of your contract and you wish to move on to other endeavors," President Jo Ann Gora wrote to Thompson in an e-mail June 26.
However, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Tom Collins said in an interview Wednesday that Thompson never told him anything about wanting to leave Ball State.
"As far as I knew, we were still working through the issues," Collins said.
The e-mail was one of about 20 received through a Freedom of Information Act request on Wednesday that indicate Collins and Gora knew more about Thompson's displeasure with his job than they let on in the days up to his resignation. During that time, both were quoted saying Thompson would remain in his position as head basketball coach.
The e-mails show Thompson as an uncooperative, defiant and distant coach during the last month of his tenure. Throughout the e-mails, both Collins and Gora were supportive of Thompson, even though Thompson adamantly disagreed with the university's handling of the NCAA violations.
Thompson's letter of resignation blamed the university's investigation into the recent NCAA violations for his departure, Collins said Friday. The letter, which was requested as part of the Freedom of Information Act request, was not released.
"Releasing that type of information just doesn't help anybody," Associate Vice President for Marketing and Communications Tony Proudfoot said.
The university sent the NCAA a self-report in early June of what it termed secondary violations that involved the men's basketball program. Proudfoot said Wednesday that Thompson had told the university in May that he had concerns with the investigation.
"That conversation largely circled around the process and the conclusion of the university's investigation with the NCAA violations," Proudfoot recalled Wednesday. "[Thompson] disagreed with the conclusions of the investigation."
"I understand from our earlier conversation in May, as well as our discussion today, you are requesting to be let out of your contract and you wish to move on to other endeavors," President Jo Ann Gora wrote to Thompson in an e-mail June 26.
However, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Tom Collins said in an interview Wednesday that Thompson never told him anything about wanting to leave Ball State.
"As far as I knew, we were still working through the issues," Collins said.
The e-mail was one of about 20 received through a Freedom of Information Act request on Wednesday that indicate Collins and Gora knew more about Thompson's displeasure with his job than they let on in the days up to his resignation. During that time, both were quoted saying Thompson would remain in his position as head basketball coach.
The e-mails show Thompson as an uncooperative, defiant and distant coach during the last month of his tenure. Throughout the e-mails, both Collins and Gora were supportive of Thompson, even though Thompson adamantly disagreed with the university's handling of the NCAA violations.
Thompson's letter of resignation blamed the university's investigation into the recent NCAA violations for his departure, Collins said Friday. The letter, which was requested as part of the Freedom of Information Act request, was not released.
"Releasing that type of information just doesn't help anybody," Associate Vice President for Marketing and Communications Tony Proudfoot said.
The university sent the NCAA a self-report in early June of what it termed secondary violations that involved the men's basketball program. Proudfoot said Wednesday that Thompson had told the university in May that he had concerns with the investigation.
"That conversation largely circled around the process and the conclusion of the university's investigation with the NCAA violations," Proudfoot recalled Wednesday. "[Thompson] disagreed with the conclusions of the investigation."
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 13
Brett Goudy
posted 7/19/07 @ 8:35 AM EST
Thank god this arrogant man is no longer associated with Ball State. He has set our program back YEARS in development.
He , from day one, has acted as if he was better than Ball State- but his actions have left him with (hopefully) enough baggage to keep him from destroying another program- although his name will probably afford the chance again soon. (Continued…)
Anoynamous
posted 7/19/07 @ 9:51 AM EST
While he very well may have been an ignorant selfish man, I wouldn't say he set our program back years. He does have the best MAC recruiting class coming in next year. (Continued…)
Kelvin Frye
posted 7/19/07 @ 10:03 AM EST
There is no question the brief Ronny Thompson era was a dark and embarassing one for Ball State University and for all those who care about BSU. However, an excellent hire for the next BSU basketabll coach will make the 2006/2007 season a distant memory. (Continued…)
zolander
posted 7/19/07 @ 1:04 PM EST
Posted by Kelvin Frye
"I hope Tom Collins and President Gora will learn from this experience and not hold back on hiring the best candidate out there"
Of course they learned from their mistake, they didn't become President and Athletic Director of a mid-major D-1 school by sheer dumb luck and/or cronyism loyalty to one political party or another. (Continued…)
Snip
posted 7/20/07 @ 5:21 PM EST
You know, sometimes a guy comes along who is such a huge jerk that he makes it worth one's while to get in his way. I have saved every article written in the past month or two about Ronny Thompson and will be sure to share it with any university president, AD, and trustee considering hiring this "man. (Continued…)
Hamilton
posted 7/24/07 @ 5:00 AM EST
What was done has been done. With Thompson gone we have to look on to the future of what Ball State Basketball can be and not what it was last season. (Continued…)
Ken Kristiansen
posted 7/25/07 @ 3:32 PM EST
I read in this article that requests from Freedom of Information Act allowed The Daily News to some emails, but The DN was denied on other requests.
Technical question: who's the gatekeeper of the info?
coachg
posted 7/25/07 @ 6:10 PM EST
It is interesting that Thompson wanted out in may but was still out putting together on of the best recruiting classes in Ball State history. This is a great group of young men who were recruited by positions and their athleticism and winning traditions. (Continued…)
Eddie
posted 7/26/07 @ 8:50 AM EST
I don't quite understand why Ball State denied the FOIA request for the resignation letter, and those 10 e-mails. You guys did a great job of getting the info you got, but there is no valid reason to deny the other request. (Continued…)
wilks45
posted 7/26/07 @ 9:10 AM EST
coachg,
"Thompson wanted out in may but was still out putting together on of the best recruiting classes in Ball State history."
First off, these recruiting class raitings are a joke. (Continued…)
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