INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -Billy Taylor, who led Lehigh to the NCAA tournament in 2004, was hired by Ball State on Tuesday to replace Ronny Thompson, who resigned last month amid accusations that he broke NCAA rules and his claims that he faced a hostile racial environment.
Taylor will face rebuilding a program that finished 9-22 in Thompson’s only season as head coach and faces numerous questions from the NCAA, including an allegation that school officials fired the women’s volleyball coach for reporting suspected infractions by Thompson and his staff.
Taylor played at Notre Dame from 1991-95 had an 81-69 record in five seasons at Lehigh, including that Patriot League championship in 2004.
Thompson, who is black, resigned July 12, just weeks after school officials said notes slipped under basketball office doors included racial slurs along with references to “cheaters” and “liars.”
The hiring of Taylor, who is black, came the same day another black coach, IUPUI’s Ron Hunter, said he withdrew as a candidate for the Ball State job.
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