Angry Former Player Set Up Baylor Coach : Ex-Center Taped the Conversation That Led to Haller’s Resignation

Baylor University basketball Coach Jim Haller, who announced his resignation Friday after a television broadcast of a tape on which he was allegedly heard discussing a money payment of $172 and the use of steroids with a former player, was set up by the former player, John Wheeler.

The $172 was the amount of meal money given to all players during the Christmas holidays, when Baylor’s dormitories were closed. But Wheeler left the team in December and thus was not entitled to the money.

However, when the player came to him last month and said he was behind on his car payment, Haller decided to give him the money anyway. “I felt sorry for the kid and I feel sorry for him now,” said the 38-year-old coach, whose resignation is effective at the end of the season.

Several of Wheeler’s teammates said Wheeler’s lack of playing time and a reprimand he received from Haller in practice about a month ago apparently angered the player to the point he decided to do something.

After Wheeler lackadaisically missed a layup, the players said, Haller told him to go to a side basket to practice his layups. Wheeler showered and left the gym.

“I just thought it up,” Wheeler told the Dallas Morning News, alluding to his decision to tape two conversations with Haller. “I was desperate. He treated me so bad. I said, ‘There’s got to be a way.’

So, wearing a hidden microphone, he approached Haller about money and spoke about his use of steroids.

“When I saw I was getting the short end of the stick, well, it may not be the right way, but I figured I’d get him by doing this,” the player said. “This was the only method I had.”

Haller said he felt “very much” entrapped and added, “I think it’s a sad commentary on what can happen between a disgruntled player and a coach.”

Wheeler said: “I didn’t want to turn him in, I really didn’t. But when I saw he kept mistreating me and the other players, and I saw he was a sorry coach anyway, I said: ‘All right, I’m going to.’ I think I did the school a favor and the team a favor by lowering the boom. I felt, ‘Mission Accomplished.’ ”

Wheeler described himself as “Moses . . . leading them (his teammates) out of this bondage.”

Wheeler said he considers Baylor a good school, “but you can’t get out all the creeps there. . . . I have nothing against Baylor. Baylor is a good school with high academic standards. My only argument was against the coach.”

The tape also raised questions about steroids, drugs often used by athletes to enhance performances. On the tape, Haller warned Wheeler that steroids could be dangerous and urged him that if he was using them, he should stop.

“I wished I didn’t even know you were taking them,” the voice identified as Haller said on the tape. “I’m out of that. Not because I don’t want to help you; because I’m scared to death of it.”

The player was told that the deaths of two Clemson athletes were attributed to steroids, which are illegal without a doctor’s prescription.

Wheeler had transferred to Baylor after two unhappy seasons at Cleveland State. He had sat out last season as a redshirt and, until leaving the team, was used sparingly this season. After 24 games, he had played 12 minutes in six games, making three field goals and six free throws.

Wheeler said he deserved a chance to play and that the “last straw” was when Haller kept him on the bench throughout Baylor’s upset of ninth-ranked Southern Methodist on Feb. 11, despite what he said was Haller’s earlier assurance that he would see action.

Saturday night, Haller received a standing ovation when he walked onto the court for a game against Houston. Then the Bears went out and presented him with his 100th Southwest Conference victory, stunning the Cougars, 88-84.

“It gave me goosebumps to see the students standing and cheering,” Haller said. “It means something to me that I was able to beat (Houston Coach) Guy Lewis the last time I played him.”

The victory broke a seven-game Baylor losing streak against Houston. Also, it sharply improved Baylor’s chances of competing in the Southwest Conference tournament and thus giving Haller at least one extra game to coach.

Baylor improved its season mark to 10-15 and its conference record to 3-11, moving out of a last-place tie with Rice. The last-place team in the SWC does not take part in the league’s tournament.

Houston fell to 7-7 and 15-11.