Former Player at Florida Admits Lying in Attempt to Get Sloan Fired

A grudge against Florida basketball Coach Norm Sloan prompted a former player to lie to federal investigators about cash payments and drug use among players, a newspaper reported Thursday.

“I just wanted to get Sloan fired,” Kenny McClary told the grand jury in Tallahassee, according to testimony obtained by the Palm Beach Post.

McClary testified that he lied because he had a “very high grudge against Norm Sloan,” after playing little as a senior. His eligibility expired in 1988.

McClary was questioned by federal investigators about drug use in the Gainesville area three times in 1988--first by Drug Enforcement Agency agents in Gainesville, at the U.S. Attorney’s Office Tallahassee and before the grand jury in Tallahassee.

To the DEA, McClary detailed several allegations against Sloan and assistant coaches Monte Towe and Kenny McCraney. Included was the charge the coaches gave McClary money, which would have been a major violation of NCAA rules.