Skip to content

Report: Celtics assistant accused of taking bribes when he coached Penn

Jamie Sabau / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Current Boston Celtics assistant and former University of Pennsylvania head coach Jerome Allen is said to have accepted a bribe from a businessman who wanted his to son to attend Penn, a person familiar with the matter told Bloomberg's Michael Smith, David Voreacos, and Eben Novy-Williams.

Neither Allen or Penn is identified in an indictment filed against businessman Philip Esformes on Friday, although the filing reportedly contains descriptions of a Philadelphia school and its former men's basketball coach that match Allen's tenure as head coach.

Esformes is accused in the indictment of giving somebody described as "Coach 2," whom Bloomberg says is Allen, more than $74,000 cash, a trip to Miami, and rides on a private jet. The gifts were reportedly intended to help Esformes' son, a basketball player, gain admission to Penn, where he began school in 2015.

Esformes is separately charged with health-care fraud, money laundering, conspiracy, and bribery. Neither Allen or "Coach 2" has been charged with a crime.

Allen was fired by Penn after the 2014-15 season.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox