Tag: Walter McCarty

Evansville fires ex-Celtic player, assistant Walter McCarty

Former Boston Celtics player and assistant head coach Walter McCarty was let go by the University of Evansville as head coach of their Men’s basketball program over undisclosed Title IX complaints.

What looked to be the start of a promising career in his hometown University of Evansville has ended in disaster, with former Boston Celtics player and assistant coach Walter McCarty having been fired by the school on Jan. 21.

McCarty, who began the second season of his tenure as head coach of Evansville’s Men’s Basketball program with a win over top-ranked Kentucky, soon fell from grace as the school opened investigations into allegations of inappropriate behavior.

While details over what exactly that behavior was are still unclear, we know the school issued the McCarty warnings for Title IX violations, a serious category of offenses including gender- or sex- based discrimination, harassment or sexual violence.

The school issued a statement after the firing, stating (per the Evansville Courier-Press’ Chad Lindskog):

“There is no place at UE for any behavior by any University employee or student that jeopardizes the safety and security of others … While the investigation of potential Title IX violations will continue under University policies, UE has decided that, based on the facts uncovered thus far, it is necessary to terminate Mr. McCarty’s employment immediately.”

The school quickly moved to replace McCarty with Todd Lickliter, a former assistant who temporarily left the program due to an accident, reports Lindskog.

McCarty was just starting the second season of a five-year contract after going 11-21 in his first season, and 9-4 this one before he was placed on leave.

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Former Celtic, Evansville coach Walter McCarty placed on leave

Former Boston Celtics player and assistant coach Walter McCarty has been put on administrative leave while under investigation for Title IX violations.

Former Boston Celtic forward and assistant coach Walter McCarty finds himself placed on administrative leave for Title IX violations in his role as head coach of the Evansville Men’s Basketball program.

McCarty, an Evansville native, left his position with the Celtics as an assistant coach after last season to coach his hometown Indiana school.

The period of leave was imposed while the school investigates possible misconduct by McCarty related to gender discrimination, sexual harassment or related misconduct.

President of the University of Evansville Christopher Pietruszkiewicz released a statement on the situation, stating (via the Boston Globe):

“The University has received reports of unwelcome conduct by Coach McCarty since his arrival in March 2018. We have counseled him about his behavior.

In the last two weeks, the University received a troubling report about Coach McCarty’s interactions with a member of the campus community. We have placed Coach McCarty on leave while that incident is being investigated.”

The University will make a fair and informed decision on Coach McCarty’s status based on the results of the investigation,” he added, noting “will not tolerate any behavior from any university employee or student that jeopardizes the safety and security of others.”

The news is unsettling, to say the least, and comes on the heels of a successful start to the Kentucky product’s tenure as head coach of the school’s basketball program.

Off to a 9-4 start with a win over the then-No. 1 team, McCarty’s alma mater, what seemed like a perfect match may be turning sour. Details are still forthcoming about the specific substance of the allegations, but it is refreshing to the school taking them seriously.

Former Celtics forward Walter McCarty coaches Evansville to upset over top-ranked Kentucky

Former Boston Celtics forward and assistant coach Walter McCarty has early success with Evansville, defeating national powerhouse Kentucky.

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The success being enjoyed by the current iteration of the Boston Celtics must be contagious.

Former Celtics forward and assistant coach Walter McCarty and the Evansville collegiate squad he left Boston to coach had their own Kevin Garnett-like moment last night as they took down the top-ranked University of Kentucky men’s basketball team 67-64.

For McCarty, it was doubly significant, as he happens to be an alumnus of the school his unranked Purple Aces defeated. Even more impressive, it happened on Kentucky’s home court at Rupp Arena.

25-point underdogs or no, McCarty motivated his hometown team, which he took the reins of after leaving the Celtic in 2018, to dig in and pull off the upset win.

You can listen to the local radio play-by-play announcers narrate Kentucky’s failed attempt to tie the game up in its final seconds below:

Opposing coach John Calipari reportedly admitted after the game he was out-coached by the former Celtics staffer, according ESPN’s Myron Medcalf. “Give credit to Walter. He had his team better prepared than I had my team. They deserved to win”, noted the Hall of Fame coach.

6-foot-6 Evansville guard Sam Cunliffe gushed over the win, saying (per the Evansville Courier-Press’ Chad Lindskog), “It’s amazing … Coming to a school like this, you talk about making history like this. You know, making history and playing in front of these bright lights.”

“We prepared the right way and had our minds in the right spots, so to actually do it is surreal,” he added. “I couldn’t have imagined this ever in my life.”

Cunliffe, a four-star recruit McCarty was instrumental in landing, joined guard K.J. Riley in leading the team with 17 and 18 points, respectively, with Cunliffe adding a half-dozen boards for good measure.

“They are a great team, the toughest team to play us,” McCarty offered after the win. “But I believe in my guys. I told them, ‘We’re gonna go in there and get them. We’re gonna surprise some people today.’ I told them, ‘This is a great day to be a Purple Ace. Let’s go do it.”

Somehow, despite the odds and hostile environment, they did.

It’s refreshing to see so many current and former Celtics finding success again after such a rough season for Boston’s fans.