The termination of former head coach Brad Bohannon from the University of Alabama baseball program is linked to suspicious betting activity involving the team, as confirmed by a knowledgeable source to The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network.
The source, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the ongoing investigation, stated that there is no indication of player involvement in the matter.
Bohannon, who was relieved of his duties earlier in the day, amidst his sixth season with the program, did not immediately respond to inquiries from The Tuscaloosa News.
“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,” read a university statement. “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.”
Suspicious activity surrounding the Alabama vs. LSU game on Friday, April 28, prompted the Ohio Casino Control Commission to suspend betting on future Alabama baseball games. The game resulted in an 8-6 loss for Alabama. ESPN reported that surveillance footage indicated that the individual placing the bets “was communicating with Bohannon at the time.”
SEC commissioner Greg Sankey released a statement later on Thursday, emphasizing the importance of ensuring the integrity of athletic competition and expressing zero tolerance for any activities that cast doubt on this integrity.
Bohannon’s termination follows earlier allegations of mistreatment made by one of his former players in a lawsuit that implicated Bohannon and two assistants.
Bohannon led the Crimson Tide for six seasons, joining from Auburn in 2018. Despite a 166-124 overall record, his SEC play record stood at 48-91. Alabama made it to the 2021 NCAA Tournament under his leadership but was eliminated in regional play.
Alabama, currently standing at 30-15 overall and 9-12 in SEC play, is set to begin a series against Vanderbilt with Jason Jackson, the pitching coach, serving as the interim coach.
The Ohio Casino Control Commission, upon receiving information from one of its certified independent integrity monitors, issued a directive on Monday banning wagers on Alabama baseball, marking the first suspension of such wagers since betting became legal earlier this year.
New Jersey and Kansas have also suspended bets on Alabama baseball, following Ohio’s lead.
The suspicious sports gaming activity in question is defined by Ohio as “unusual sports gaming activity that cannot be explained and is indicative of any of the following: match fixing, the manipulation of a sport, misuse of inside information, a potential breach of a sports governing body’s internal rules or code of conduct pertaining to sports gaming, any other conduct that corrupts the outcome of a sport, and any other prohibited activity.”
