Wichita State's Marshall denies assault claims

Wichita State men's basketball coach Gregg Marshall denied Tuesday that he ever physically assaulted a player or assistant coach.

"In response to the allegations put forward in the media, I simply state unequivocally that I have never physically struck a player or colleague," Marshall wrote in a statement to The Wichita Eagle's Taylor Eldridge. "Allegations claiming otherwise are false."

The Shockers announced last week they had commenced an independent investigation of Marshall in the wake of reports he struck former player Shaquille Morris during a 2015 practice and choked former assistant coach Kyle Lindsted the following season.

Marshall said he is cooperating with the investigation.

"It is important that the investigation conclude its work without outside influence," he said. "An unrelenting character assassination by a member of the media that repeatedly targets me and my family threatens to undermine the impartiality of the investigation."

Marshall has coached Wichita State since 2007, appearing in the Final Four in 2013.