Massimino Quits at Cleveland State

Rollie Massimino resigned after a disappointing seven-season stint as men’s coach at Cleveland State, where he was unable to duplicate the success he had while leading Villanova to an improbable 1985 NCAA title.

Cleveland State bought out the final two years of the 68-year-old Massimino’s contract, Athletic Director Lee Reed said Saturday. Massimino was paid $147,000 for the 2002-03 season.

Massimino’s tenure at Cleveland State ended with his first 20-loss season in 30 seasons of coaching, in which he has compiled a 515-391 record. He was 89-113 at Cleveland State.

Cleveland State went 8-22 this season, was last in the nine-team Horizon League and lost in the first round of the conference tournament.

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The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that former Georgia assistant coach Jim Harrick Jr. implicated Dale Brown, in a memo sent to associate athletic director Damon Evans, in reference to who paid former Bulldog player Tony Cole’s living expenses.

“Tony requested Dale Brown and his foundation to help assist in housing him while waiting acceptance to UGA,” Harrick Jr. wrote in the memo.

Brown denied the charges. Cole alleges Harrick Jr. paid for the expenses.

Georgia Coach Jim Harrick is under investigation by the university for alleged violations.

Harrick has been suspended with pay.