Wichita State University men’s basketball head coach Gregg Marshall is under investigation over allegations of physically and verbally abusing players and assistant coaches.
Stadium reportedly spent six months talking with 36 former and current members of the Wichita State basketball program, hearing allegations that led Wichita State to upon an investigation in September. Tueth Keeney, a law firm out of St. Louis, is heading the investigation.
"I'm aware the university conducted interviews and I fully participated in the process," Marshall told The Athletic in a text message. "I look forward to having it wrapped up as I continue to focus my energy on our team."
The investigation is looking into a number of allegations, including abuse as well as frequently demeaning players with slurs.
“He tries to intimidate and bully people,” a former assistant told Stadium. “It’s mostly just horrible verbal abuse.”
“He’s smart, a great coach,” a player added. “Just a bad person.”
Stadium heard from two former players and one current assistant coach who said they didn’t see any verbal or physical abuse. The rest spoke of an intimidating culture that led 10 players to transfer from Wichita State over the past two seasons. Stadium reportedly spoke to eight of them, all of whom said Marshall’s treatment was the primary reason for transferring from a successful program that’s coming off a 23-8 season.
“He’s a maniac, a bully,” a former assistant said, according to Stadium. “He disrespects people, brings up personal stuff, family, girlfriends.”
Shaq Morris, who scored 14.0 points per game as a senior in 2017-18, told Stadium that Marshall punched him twice during a 2015 practice in which Morris blocked a shot that caused a teammate to land hard on his back. Other eyewitnesses corroborated the story.
“I went over to help (Brown) up, and as I was helping him up to make sure he was okay, bam — I’m struck on the left side of my face with a punch,” Morris told Stadium. “I turned back with my fists ready to punch or swing. I don’t know who did what and I see Marshall standing there. I turned around and started walking out.”
Morris, who said the incident happened hours after he told Marshall his now-deceased mother was battling cancer, was walking out of the gym when he was punched again.
“Shaq walks away and Marshall punches him in the back of the head,” a former player said. “I’m in disbelief. He’s done flagrant stuff, but that was probably the reason I (transferred). I lost respect for him as a man.”
Three eyewitnesses said that Marshall, who was hired in 2007, choked assistant coach Kyle Lindsted in 2016-17. The 57-year-old Marshall also allegedly made “Indian howling noises” toward junior Isaiah Poor Bear-Chandler, who is of Native American descent, and told him to “get back on his horse.” The father of a player told Stadium that his son has dealt with anxiety and depression since leaving the program after a career in which Marshall grabbed his stomach and mocked his weight in 2015-16.
