Report: George Washington's Mike Lonergan accused of verbal, emotional abuse
Coaches of any sport can often toe a line between intense and abuse, and George Washington's Mike Lonergan has reportedly fallen on the wrong side of that line.
According to statements made by past and present players who wish to remain anonymous, the reason behind GW's high transfer rate is Lonergan's treatment of players, Adam Kilgore of The Washington Post reports.
Lonergan declined to be interviewed on the topic, but did offer an emailed statement regarding the accusations.
"I will not respond to anonymous, unfounded allegations," Lonergan said. "These types of accusations have already been investigated by the University and found to be groundless.
"Those who know me know that I conduct myself and run my program with integrity," Lonergan added. "I have a long record of graduating student-athletes who go on to be successful in life. I am proud of my student-athletes' success on the court and in the classroom, and I am focused on preparing for the upcoming season."
According to Kilgore, a current George Washington player met with campus Title IX coordinator Rory Muhammad in early April to voice his concerns about the coach and was shocked by the reaction he received. Muhammad told the player that the school had looked into it and that the issue had been "handled."
The player then emailed Muhammad as a follow-up to his claims on April 16.
"I understand you met with Coach about similar issues before," the player stated in the email. "But this concerns me and my teammates because it seems as if nothing was taken seriously. This worries me because if I (and others) choose to leave the University, word of Coach Lonergan's verbal and emotional abuse, as well as player mistreatment would eventually be known among the greater community."
A total of 13 players have transferred out of George Washington in Lonergan's five-year tenure.
"A lot of kids transfer because they have delusions of grandeur," said a former member of the Colonials' men's basketball staff. "Nobody transferred from GW with delusions of grandeur. They just transferred because they hated him. They couldn't stand another second of him."