Harvard needs more diversity but doesn't need Jarvis
Harvard has 32 paid head coaches on staff.
None are black.
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| Tommy Amaker would be an ideal choice to coach at Harvard. (Getty Images) |
None are black.
So while there is a magazine on campus called Diversity and Distinction, it wasn't surprising to learn its website hasn't been updated since 2005. Clearly, diversity and distinction have not been priorities at Harvard lately, particularly not in the athletic department.
But that's about to change.
Harvard has a job to fill, a coaching vacancy in men's basketball. The latest name to emerge as a candidate is former Michigan coach Tommy Amaker, a black man with a solid reputation. He's a sensible hire, a reasonable option. Harvard could do worse.
In fact, Harvard is on the verge of doing worse.
Harvard is on the verge of hiring Mike Jarvis.
He's worse.
"This institution should have identified, communicated with and tracked the sources of income for the student-athlete, who it knew to be in financial difficulty," NCAA committee on infractions chairman Gene Marsh said in a written statement last May when he announced St. John's would be placed on two years probation thanks to violations committed on Jarvis' watch. "Had it done so, it would have been able to determine that the young man was unable to meet his financial obligation and was receiving funds from unknown and possibly impermissible sources."
The young man of note was Abe Keita. He alleged he received $300 each month from a member of the St. John's basketball staff, and an investigation found evidence to support the claim. In fairness, Jarvis was not personally found guilty, just publicly criticized for not doing a better job of monitoring the situation. But if you know anything about coaches, you know they monitor everything. So to believe Jarvis wasn't aware somebody on his staff paid a player is to believe a man in a profession where it's common for people to know the cell phone numbers of the uncle, girlfriend and neighbor of an elite 10th grader didn't notice one of his players lived a lifestyle the NCAA deemed out of line.
You can believe that if you want.
