Ball St. hires ex-Lehigh coach Taylor amid racial probe at school

INDIANAPOLIS -- Billy Taylor, who led Lehigh to the NCAA Tournament in 2004, was hired by Ball State on Tuesday to replace Ronny Thompson, who resigned last month amid accusations that he broke NCAA rules and his claims that he faced a hostile racial environment.

Taylor will face rebuilding a program that finished 9-22 in Thompson's only season as head coach and faces numerous questions from the NCAA, including an allegation that school officials fired the women's volleyball coach for reporting suspected infractions by Thompson and his staff.

Taylor played at Notre Dame from 1991-95 and had an 81-69 record in five seasons at Lehigh, including that Patriot League championship in 2004.

Thompson, who is black, resigned July 12, just weeks after school officials said notes slipped under basketball office doors included racial slurs along with references to "cheaters" and "liars."

The hiring of Taylor, who is black, came the same day another black coach, IUPUI's Ron Hunter, said he withdrew as a candidate for the Ball State job.

"It was clear that Billy Taylor wanted to be the head coach at Ball State University," athletic director Tom Collins said in a statement. "Billy has head coaching experience, Midwest roots ... and was highly successful in a great league."

Hunter said he was aware of Thompson's claims about the racial climate.

Billy Taylor coached Lehigh to an 81-69 mark over five seasons. (US Presswire)

"I did look into it a little bit, but that wasn't the reason I made the decision," Hunter told the Associated Press. "I was a little concerned about the NCAA problems."

School officials have reported to the NCAA that Thompson and his staff broke rules by attending voluntary offseason workouts in both 2006 and 2007, then lied about their involvement this May.

Thompson's Washington-based attorney, Matthew Keiser, said Monday that Thompson denied breaking any NCAA rules. Keiser also said Thompson did not quit because of the investigation and that his resignation letter told Ball State officials of the "racially hostile work environment" he had faced.

Ball State spokesman Tony Proudfoot said earlier Tuesday that the school was investigating Thompson's complaints, including having two professors study whether the Muncie campus faced broader racial problems.

Thompson is a son of Hall of Fame coach John Thompson, who won a national championship in his 27 seasons at Georgetown. His brother, John III, led Georgetown to the Final Four last season.

"We take his concerns very seriously," Proudfoot said. "Anything that coach Thompson mentioned as a concern, we are examining. We want to ensure that Ball State is a working place for all people."