Cleveland State Fires Mackey as Coach After Arrest, Drug Test

Cleveland State basketball Coach Kevin Mackey was fired Thursday, six days after his arrest for alleged drunk driving.

His lawyer, David Roth, said Mackey will soon begin treatment for drug and alcohol abuse at a center in Houston run by NBA player John Lucas.

Mackey was arrested as he and a woman drove away from a reputed drug house. A urinalysis revealed that Mackey was drunk and had cocaine in his system, police said. Also arrested was Alma Massey, 36, who has a history of soliciting, according to police.

“I just said that I fired Kevin Mackey, but really, he fired himself,” university President John A. Flower said at a news conference. “It has become clear over the past few days that Kevin Mackey has, by his own admission, habitually and repeatedly made a mockery of standards of moral and ethical behavior.”

Mackey pleaded not guilty to driving while intoxicated, consumption of alcohol in a motor vehicle and violation of the open container ordinance.

Mackey did not attend Thursday’s news conference. On Tuesday, he said he has been living a double life, one as a family man and popular coach, the other as a man addicted to alcohol and drugs.

Last week, he signed a new two-year contract with base salaries of $85,000 and $90,000. The contract has been voided, according to Jan Muczyk, senior vice president, although Muczyk said Mackey may be entitled to some payment.

“Kevin Mackey’s contract did not have a morals clause in it, per se,” Muczyk said. “Behavior that disgraces the university is adequate grounds for voiding a contract.”