UTEP Coach Haskins Denies School Gave Staggers Money, Transportation

Basketball coach Don Haskins of Texas El Paso has angrily denied allegations by a former recruit that UTEP coaches gave the player money, housing and transportation.

The Los Angeles Times reported Saturday that John Staggers, a former Crenshaw High star, had told the NCAA that he received such favors in 1988. The NCAA has been investigating UTEP’s basketball program for six months.

Staggers said that he told the NCAA that UTEP had furnished him with a place to live, transportation and meals during a six-week stay in El Paso in the summer of 1988. Staggers also implicated UTEP assistants Rus Bradburd, now at Ball State, and G Ray Johnson.

Haskins has called a news conference for this morning to discuss the situation.

“We’ve done nothing illegal,” Haskins said. “This is the first I’ve heard of anything like this. But I’ve been in constant contact with my assistant coaches.

“You know,” Haskins added, “had John Staggers passed his GED (General Equivalency Diploma test), I think the NCAA would be a lot more concerned we’d done something illegal.”