Florida State University men’s basketball head coach, Leonard Hamilton, has announced he’s stepping down at the end of this season following a $1.5 million NIL lawsuit brought against him by six former players.
Hamilton’s tenure at FSU has been filled with success. Under Hamilton the team won the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament in 2012, the conference title in 2019-2020 and made three sweet sixteen appearances. Hamilton himself is ranked as one of the NCAA’s winningest D-I coaches. However, that all came crashing down when Hamilton promised former players $250,000 each in NIL compensation that they never received.
Related: FSU Basketball Coach Sued for Withholding NIL Payments
According to WUSF, “The players allege Hamilton promised them the money from his “business partners.” The lawsuit says they walked out of a practice last season over the missed payments and intended to boycott a February 2023 game against Duke. They ended up playing — the Seminoles lost 76-67 — amid a guarantee from Hamilton that they would be paid but never were.”
The former players include Primo Spears, Jalen Warley, Josh Nickelberry, Cam’Ron Fletcher, Darin Green Jr. and De’Ante Green. All six men appeared on the Seminole’s 2023-24 roster, and none of them will continue to play in 2025.
In a statement announcing his resignation, Hamilton said, “I’m very fortunate to be able to have given this job my all with no regrets. Every head coach inherits a legacy and is obligated to leave the job better than they inherited it. I’m very proud of what we have been able to accomplish here over the last 23 seasons. We were a consistent contender, and we created success for our players during their time here. So many of them have gone on to be successful in life. I hope that it will be remembered as my legacy.”
With this announcement, Hamilton became the third ACC coach to resign this year. He joins the University of Virginia coach, Tony Bennett, and the University of Miami coach, Jim Larranaga.
“Coach Hamilton’s personal character and integrity, and his leadership, set a tremendous standard for all of FSU Athletics,” FSU athletic director Michael Alford said. “Few people have been as important in building the positive reputation of Seminole Athletics."
The attorney representing the six former Seminoles declined to comment on Hamilton’s resignation.
