Racism Charged in Firing of Cal State Los Angeles Basketball Coach

A decision by Cal State Los Angeles not to rehire men’s basketball Coach Jim Newman for next season was racially motivated, the California State University teachers union alleged Monday.

Newman, who is black and has coached his team to records of 18-10 and 16-8 the last two years, was notified by Athletic Director Dennis Keihn last October that his contract would not be renewed.

Keihn, in an interview Monday, denied that the decision was based on race.

“It was based on job performance, which is based on many many factors which I can’t reveal because of confidentiality,” Keihn said. “Coaches are evaluated (from year to year) on many things. I don’t believe on evaluating a coach on won-lost record. Not that won-lost record isn’t a factor.”

But the California Faculty Assn., the bargaining agent for California State University teachers, said the decision stemmed from an argument between Keihn and Newman at the school gymnasium last May.

“They had an argument over students using the gym (to play basketball),” said Eric Mann, director of organizing for the CFA.

During the argument, Mann said: “(Keihn) put his finger in his (Newman’s) face and said, ‘Listen boy, I don’t like your attitude and if you keep this up you’re not going to be working here that long.

“(Newman) responded by telling him he’s 50 years old and he’s not a boy.”

Newman then filed a discrimination charge against Keihn in May, asserting that Keihn had used abusive language and actions.

An affirmative-action report on the incident issued in late May upheld Newman’s charges, concluding that although Keihn might not have had racial motivations, his actions were “racist in historical content” and called for an apology. Keihn apologized to Newman after the report was issued.

Mann said that Newman thought the incident was over until he received written notice in October that his contract would not be renewed.

Newman filed a grievance with Cal State Los Angeles last November, but it was denied in December. Newman, hoping to have his contract extended for a year, has appealed to the California State University chancellor’s office and will have a hearing Friday in Long Beach.