Evansville fires Walter McCarty-- Todd Lickliter hired as new head coach

[Da Coach]

As we had posted last month, Evansville head coach Walter McCarty was placed on "administrative leave" by the University of Evansville while they investigated claims of a Title IX violation.
And as I reported in this thread, the charges involved more than Title IX issues-

https://www.bradleyfans.com/forum/sports-forums/basketball-fan-talk/489912-evansville-title-ix-violation-head-coach-walter-mccarty-placed-on-administrative-leave#post489912

Tonight, Evansville cut ties with McCarty by officially firing him-

https://www.courierpress.com/story/sports/college/evansville/2020/01/21/walter-mccarty-resigns-evansville-basketball-coach/4483959002/

Evansville also announced that since placing him on administrative leave, more reports of "alleged misconduct" have been reported.

Bennie Seltzer will continue to serve as interim head coachuntil a new head coach is appointed. The Aces (9-10, 0-6 MVC) have lost all 6 games they have played since suspending McCarty on Dec. 27, and naming former assistant coach Seltzer as their Interim Head Coach-

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/team/schedule/_/id/339

[Da Coach]

Official release from Evansville-

https://gopurpleaces.com/news/2020/1/21/university-of-evansville-dismisses-mens-basketball-head-coach.aspx

[Da Coach]

The Evansville job was just filled, hours after they fired Walter McCarty.
Evansville just announced that they have hired Todd Lickliter as their new head coach-
https://www.courierpress.com/story/s...ty/4536727002/

Lickliter has been head coach previously at Butler and Iowa, and spent the 2018-19 season as Walter McCarty's top assistant coach. However, in early August, 2019, he abruptly resigned and announced he was "retiring". It has worked out well for Lickliter, as he now returns as their newest head coach

[Da Coach]

And now the official Evansville release regarding the hiring of Todd Lickliter-

https://gopurpleaces.com/news/2020/1/21/todd-lickliter-named-head-mens-basketball-coach-at-ue.aspx

[Da Coach]

This is probably the best possible move Evansville could have made to try to salvage their program. The players all know Todd Lickliter, and would probably be more likely to stay at Evansville now, rather than transfer. Plus, Lickliter is a solid coach with a pretty good pedigree. He failed as head coach at Iowa, and never had a winning season there. In fact, his record got worse each year he was there and he was criticized for his recruiting failures. But I think he will get Evansville to play better than they have been.
It remains to be seen how well he can recruit, and what will happen to their recruits. Evansville has 3 recruits committed for 2020, plus a mid-season transfer from Nebraska (Samari Curtis) who just enrolled at Evansville and who will be eligible at semester break next season.

[houstonbrave]

How long before Matt Graves returns as an assistant ?

[BUfan17]

Wow, that was quick hiring a head coach. Seems like McCarty had been trouble for Evansville since he came there. They had a lot of potential this season, maybe they can recover a bit now that they will have some stability.

[Da Coach]

Fired Evansville head coach Walter McCarty has issued a statement in the wake of the allegations against him.
And shockingly, he completely denies all allegations.

https://www.courierpress.com/story/sports/college/evansville/2020/01/22/attorney-walter-mccarty-shocked-university-evansville-fired-him/4544712002/

[bradleyfan124]

Fired Evansville head coach Walter McCarty has issued a statement in the wake of the allegations against him.
And shockingly, he completely denies all allegations.
https://www.courierpress.com/story/s...im/4544712002/

Reading his lawyers response reminds me of Bill Clinton

[Da Coach]

The legacy of former Evansville coach Walter McCarty lives on-

Student sues University of Evansville, accuses ex-coach Walter McCarty of rape

https://www.courierpress.com/story/sports/college/evansville/2021/04/12/student-sues-university-evansville-accuses-nba-walter-mccarty-rape/7197840002/

[BUfan17]

It seems like they have a paper trail of reports that he was harassing employees and students. If true it sounds like they should have fired him way before they did.

[Da Coach]

The latest regarding former Evansville Head Coach Walter McCarty, who was fired in January, 2020, halfway into his second season there for lewd behavior, rumored to be with female students....

Now McCarty has hired lawyers and is suing Evansville for "more than $75,000". He apparently is not contesting the fact that Evansville had the right to fire him "for cause" and thus did not owe him the remainder of his 5-year contract. He is suing over some contractual "performance-based bonuses" related to his contribution to fundraising and ticket revenues.

https://www.courierpress.com/story/sports/college/evansville/2022/01/03/walter-mccarty-sues-university-evansville-over-unpaid-bonuses/9077750002/

I am not a lawyer, but IMO, if the amount he is seeking is only in the range of $75,000-$100,000, the University of Evansville would be smart to just pay him and hope this case doesn't get dragged out in the news again like it did 2 years ago. Their legal costs to fight this could end up being more than he is asking.