The University of Alabama terminated its head baseball coach Brad Bohannon after an inquiry uncovered his possible connection to suspicious betting activity last Friday.
The first indication that something was awry came earlier this week when sportsbooks in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and New Jersey halted all bets on any Alabama baseball games. Gambling regulators found suspicious activity tied to a game with LSU on April 28.
A few hours before the LSU/Alabama game, Bohannon scratched his starting pitcher Luke Holman due to back tightness. Alabama lost 8-6 to the Tigers. Quickly after, a Las Vegas-based integrity firm U.S. Integrity flagged two bets from Ohio on the game. Both bets picked LSU to win, and one was large enough to trigger automatic regulatory checks.
According to ESPN, sportsbook surveillance video that the person who placed those two bets was in communication with Bohannon at that time. Indiana gaming regulators were also alerted to suspicious bets in that state, and four states have halted bets on Alabama baseball. The NCAA is investigating the case.
At this point, no players are indicated in the inquiry, and no one else has been terminated. The NCAA doesn’t allow athletes, coaches, or internal personnel to bet on sports.
Is Legalized Sports Betting to Blame?
Some may see the influx of legalized sports betting as the risk factor here. This is the first major gambling scandal for baseball in the U.S. since the Supreme Court overturned the ban on betting in 2018.
However, regulators noted that the questionable bets were flagged within minutes. Now, less than a week after the game in question, the whole issue may be sorted.
According to The Athletic, college sports has seen plenty of point-shaving scandals over the years, and none resolved this quickly.
What’s Next for Alabama Baseball?
Bohannon coached the Crimson Tide for six seasons. While Alabama searches for a new head coach, pitching coach Jason Jackson will serve as interim head coach.
The University of Alabama released a statement Thursday morning:
“Alabama director of athletics Greg Byrne announced he has initiated the termination process for head baseball coach Brad Bohannon for, among other things, violating the standards, duties, and responsibilities expected of University employees. Bohannon has been relieved of all duties, and Jason Jackson will serve as the interim head coach. There will be no further comment at this time pending an ongoing review.”
Losing their head coach comes at a bad time for the Tide. They’re 31-15 overall and 10-12 in the SEC. This weekend, they face top-ranked Vanderbilt in a series with playoff implications. They won the first game against Vandy 11-2 on Thursday under Jackson’s coaching. The series continues Friday and Saturday.
Bohannon was already mired in some controversy after former player Johnny Blake Bennett sued him and athletic trainer Sean Stryker for alleged negligence in addressing an injury. Over his six seasons, he went 166-124 overall and brought the Tide to the NCAA tournament only one time.
Whether Bohannon will be able to get another coaching job may depend on the outcome of this investigation.
For Alabama, it’s now time to find a new coach. Analysts are already floating names, including former Tide player David Magadan, UAB pitching coach B.J. Green, Jacksonville State assistant coach Evan Bush, and Louisiana-Lafayette assistant coach Jake Wells.
Article contributed by Hannah Vanbiber.
