Scott Monarch

Marquette coach Buzz Williams has been suspended for the first Big East game and Golden Eagles assistant coach Scott Monarch was fired after Monarch was found to have provided misleading information regarding giving a recruit apparel and transportation during the course of an investigation. 

The school made the decision, following an investigation conducted by an outside law firm, and issued a release Friday night. Monarch was given the option to resign or be fired. Williams was found, as a result of the investigation, to have no knowledge of the violations. 

“When I was allowed to review the report earlier this week, I was deeply saddened to learn of an error in judgment of one of my assistants and closest friends,” Buzz Williams said in a statement.  “I take personal responsibility for what happens in this program and realize we must be role models to both our team and the entire University.  Our commitment has always been and will always be to operate this program at the highest level of integrity in the Marquette and Jesuit tradition.”

 

Monarch, a long-time friend of Williams from their junior college days in Texas who has been on the staff for the past five seasons, was suspended back in June and not allowed to go on the road recruiting. He was caught not being forthright on multiple occasions when questioned throughout the investigation. 

"If Monarch had been truthful, he'd almost certainly still have a job," one source close to the program told CBSSports.com. "These were minor things." 

Monarch gave a Marquette recruit apparel and also drove him home, which have been deemed as secondary violations. The Golden Eagles were also hit with the loss of an official visit due to the violations.