Former George Washington basketball coach Mike Lonergan, who won the 2016 NIT but was fired last September after a university investigation into claims he verbally abused his players, has settled out of court with the Atlantic 10 school.
Shortly after he was dismissed, Lonergan informed the university he was considering legal action for breach of his contract with GW and for defamation because his termination was improper and without just cause and media reports about his firing contained factual errors and misinformation,” a joint statement from Lonergan and the school said.
“GW denies Mr. Lonergan’s allegations, denies that the University or any of its employees acted wrongly or have any liability, and has no comment on the veracity of media reports whose accuracy Lonergan disputes. Mr. Lonergan and the University have reached a settlement that will avoid litigation and put this dispute behind them.”\
The terms of the agreement are confidential.
Lonergan, who coached the Colonials to a 97-70 record, one NCAA appearance and one NIT title in five seasons, was let go two weeks before practice began. The firing came as the school launched an internal investigation in the wake of a Washington Post report that Lonergan had ripped his players and made offensive, graphic remarks to his team about AD Pat Nero.
Lonegan’s lawyer Andy Phillips from Clare Locke LLP in Alexandria, Va. said his client was pleased with the resolution.
Thirteen players left the program in five years under Lonergan, who denied the accusations, and pointed to the graduation rate at his two previous schools, Catholic and Vermont.
