Fresno State's investigation into allegations of misconduct by now-former head men's basketball coach Justin Hutson and his staff, including abusive and demeaning behavior toward players in practices and games, has ended and the staff has been cleared.
As reported by The Fresno Bee, none of the 14 allegations was fully substantiated by the law firm Bond, Schoeneck & King, which conducted the investigation on behalf of the university.
Hutson and the university parted ways Thursday, following a season-ending overtime loss to No. 1 seed Utah State in the quarterfinal round of the Mountain West Conference Tournament.
In their report, investigators did make note of a turbulent year for Bulldogs’ players and coaches, citing three ‘elements of consideration’ that played a role in creating pressure on Hutson and his staff, and that might account for some of the conduct of staff and players.
There was a deteriorating relationship between Hutson and athletics director Terry Tumey, according to the investigation report. There was pressure to recruit following a successful 23-13 season in 2020-21 that included a championship in the The Basketball Classic postseason tournament — pressure exacerbated by the fact the Bulldogs’ coach had just two years remaining on his contract and no extension in sight. There also was what Bond, Schoeneck & King referred to as a lack of communication within and outside the program.
“None of these three elements of consideration are determinative of any wrongdoing, misconduct, or negative behavior; but each of these elements played a role in shaping the atmosphere and environment within the men’s basketball program making it conducive to compromise,” Bond, Schoeneck & King wrote, according to The Fresno Bee. “It was within that atmosphere and environment that the alleged bad conduct and behavior occurred.”
Some witnesses, administrators and student-athletes reported that in their opinion, the root of the problem was that Hutson was not strong in his planning, structure, communication and vision for the program, according to the report.
The allegations that led to that investigation came from the NCAA, which in February 2023 received an anonymous tip that was forwarded to university president Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval and Tumey and later to the general counsel of the California State University system. Similar concerns also were expressed to an athletics administrator by at least two players, and by a parent or guardian of a player to Tumey in a lengthy voicemail.
The university had plans to move on after last season, but took a step back when Hutson sent Jiménez-Sandoval a letter alleging racial discrimination. The university initiated an investigation into the discrimination claims, which revolve around a lack of resources for a program that ranks ninth among the 10 public schools in the conference in basketball operating expenses. The report on potential NCAA violations and other misconduct was completed in August. It was obtained later by The Fresno Bee through a public records request.
