Wake Forest University volleyball coach Bill Ferguson resigned Thursday after being on leave from the school since March 12, when he was among 50 people who were charged in connection to the college admissions scandal.
According to TV station WXII, Ferguson allegedly received a payment of $100,000 to help a prospective student gain admission to Wake Forest after having been wait-listed. Ferguson allegedly claimed, fraudulently, that the student was a women’s volleyball recruit.
Ferguson then took the payment and divided it, sending $10,000 to the Wake Forest Deacon Club, $40,000 to the volleyball program, and $50,000 to a private volleyball camp that he ran.
Ferguson is the latest coach to step down or be fired from his position in connection to the scheme, which spanned the nation and affected schools such as the University of Southern California, Stanford and Yale.
WXII reports that Wake Forest has retained outside legal counsel as it investigates the matter.
“With the volleyball season about to begin, we appreciate and respect Bill’s wish to put the interests of the student-athletes and the program first,” Wake Forest athletic director John Currie said. “Interim coach Randi Smart has done an excellent job of leading our student-athletes through this period of uncertainty. We are grateful for her continued leadership of the program as we get ready for our first home exhibition match this Saturday.”
