Can't let this news slide until August when it would be most appropriate to start this thread once the season schedules are finalized. Though, expect Stanford to be prohibitive favorite to repeat.
Iowa's Head Coach Bond Shymansky was fired last week for giving a player an 'impermissible benefit.' Shymansky was put on administrative leave in May while the school investigated. Shymansky (an Iowa alum and native) was silent during the leave, but then issued this statement after his firing. Sounds like NCAA is now investigating.
"Former University of Iowa Head Women's Volleyball Coach Bond Shymansky acknowledges that an NCAA violation was committed when he provided financial assistance to a team member during the summer of 2017 to cover her rent."
This next part is from Shymansky.
"For the past month, I have cooperated with the University's request to remain silent regarding the underlying basis for my suspension. Now that I have been terminated, it is time to shed light on the details and end any wild speculation.
"I did not discriminate against, abuse or harass anyone — and there has never been an allegation of sexual misconduct against me. In an act of compassion, I advanced funds to cover a young woman's unanticipated summer expenses in 2017. She came to Iowa City expecting to be on full scholarship, but when that status changed, she had nowhere else to turn. I have prided myself on running an NCAA-compliant program. However, I understand that I didn't 'do it right' by NCAA standards in this one instance and I am prepared to accept whatever sanction is deemed appropriate by the NCAA.
"I was born and raised a Hawkeye and wish to stay a part of this great community. I know big things are in store for coach Brown and the rest of the exceptional young women on our volleyball program. As a man of faith, I humbly apologize to anyone that my actions may have negatively impacted, and look forward to the next chapter in my life."
Pretty strong statement by Shymansky. Without knowing how this became known, or frankly mismanaged by Iowa/Shymansky, hard to allocate fault, though you would think the Coach knows how to manage the scholarships/roster, and if not him, aren't there 19 compliance officers in these ADs. Curious how the player contributed to this situation, if at all.
