The University of North Carolina Charlotte announced that men’s tennis coach Jeremy Feldman has resigned his position “to pursue a new career opportunity.”
The resignation, effective Aug. 19, comes just weeks before the team’s season is set to begin, and at a time when Feldman is subject to a defamation lawsuit filed by a former student-athlete according to the Charlotte Observer.
The suit, filed in March by former UNC Charlotte player William “Scotty” Cameron alleges that Feldman fabricated a story to about him bullying a teammate to get him kicked off the team.
The Observer reports that Cameron’s complaint claims Feldman tried to get Cameron off the team to free up scholarship money, and in part to hide his own improper behavior, which included such things as lewd jokes about one of his player’s mothers.
University chancellor Phil Dubois, athletic director Mike Hill and other athletic department officials are named as co-defendants in the suit, which accuses them of negligence, defamation, violations of due process rights, intentional infliction of emotional distress, civil conspiracy and breach of contract. Cameron’s suit seeks damages in excess of $75,000.
Feldman led the 49ers to a 34-44 record in three seasons at Charlotte. Women’s tennis coach Anthony Davison will lead the men’s program in an interim capacity until the school hires a replacement.