Bernie Fine

Last updated
Bernie Fine
Bernie Fine in 2010.jpg
Fine in 2010
Biographical details
Born (1945-12-23) December 23, 1945 (age 78)
Brooklyn, New York
Alma mater Syracuse (1967)
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1970–1971 Lincoln Junior HS
1971–1976 Henninger HS (junior varsity)
1976–2011 Syracuse (associate HC)

Bernard Arthur Fine (born December 23, 1945) is a former associate head basketball coach for the Syracuse Orange men's basketball team and founding member of the Jewish Coaches Association. [1]

Contents

In 2011, Fine was fired after being accused of sexual abuse of 2 former Syracuse ballboys, both of whom were stepbrothers, while according to other reports at the time, Fine had also allegedly molested two other boys in the years following the first two reports.

Early coaching career

Fine started his coaching career as a student-manager in 1963, when Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim played at SU with NBA Hall-of-Famer Dave Bing. Fine graduated from Syracuse University in 1967 with a B.S. in personnel and industrial relations, and went into business.

In 1970, he assumed the basketball and football coaching positions at Lincoln Junior High School. The following year, he went to Henninger High School in Syracuse, New York, as the junior varsity basketball coach from 1971 to 1974, before taking over as varsity coach. When Boeheim became head coach at Syracuse University in 1976, he hired Fine and Rick Pitino as assistants. [2]

College coaching career

During his coaching career, Fine was named the president of the Central New York Kidney Foundation; a faculty adviser for a social fraternity, Sigma Alpha Mu; an adviser for an honor society, Phi Kappa Alpha; and has been involved with the Boys Club and the Make-a-Wish Foundation. [3]

Fine was responsible for coaching Syracuse's forwards and centers, including Rony Seikaly, Etan Thomas and John Wallace. In 2000, Fine was promoted to associate head coach. In the 2001–02 season, he assumed head coaching responsibilities for three games when Boeheim had health problems. [2]

Fine also coached U.S. Maccabiah team to a silver medal at the 1993 World Maccabiah Games in Israel. In 2002, he participated in The Blackfeet Native Skill-Builder Hoop Clinic, a basketball seminar conducted on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in Montana. [2]

At the time of Fine's dismissal from Syracuse in 2011, after a 36-year career he led all active Division I assistant coaches in tenure at their schools. [4]

Sexual abuse allegations and termination

Two step-brothers and two others alleged that Fine had molested them years earlier. The two others later recanted and admitted that they had fabricated their stories. In 2012, after an investigation federal prosecutors announced Fine would not be charged. [5]

In November 2011 two step-brothers who were former Syracuse University ball boys alleged on ESPN's Outside the Lines program that they had been molested by Fine from the late 1970s to the 1990s. [5] Fine and head men's basketball coach Boeheim denied the charges. Because the incidents occurred over 10 years prior, District Attorney William Fitzpatrick indicated that the statute of limitations would probably bar any prosecution. [6] Syracuse University placed Fine on administrative leave and said it would cooperate fully with the investigation. [7] [8]

Subsequently, a third and then a fourth person claimed to have been molested by Fine in 2002 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The United States Secret Service searched Fine's house and seized file cabinets, computers, and other potential evidence. [9] The investigation included more than 150 interviews with 130 witnesses, and a review of more than 100,000 pages of documents that included emails, travel records, financial records, computer records, and phone records. [5]

On November 27, 2011, Syracuse University Chancellor Nancy Cantor fired Fine in response to the allegations. [10] Cantor said she made her decision after ESPN released a tape of a 2002 phone conversation between one of the former ballboys, Bobby Davis, and Fine's wife Laurie. In the tape, Laurie claimed she knew about her husband's behavior, but felt powerless to stop it. [10] In response to a USA Today editorial calling for an explanation for why it kept Fine on the job in 2005, Cantor said that had Syracuse known about the tape at any point prior to November 27, Fine would have been fired on the spot. [11]

On April 13, 2012, one of Fine's accusers said he "fabricated everything" and had never even met Fine. [12]

Ultimately, two of his accusers, Zach Tomaselli (who was serving a 39-month prison sentence for molesting a teenage boy, and who admitted he lied about Fine partly as payback for SU beating Tomaselli's favorite team, Kansas, for the national title in 2003) and Floyd Van Hooser (who was serving 17 years to life in state prison for repeated robberies), admitted that they lied when they made child-molesting claims against Fine. [5] [13]

On November 9, 2012, federal prosecutors announced Fine would not be charged regarding the criminal investigation of child molesting accusations. [14] Nevertheless, the case cost Fine his job, turned him into a recluse, and forced him to put his house up for sale. [5]

It was announced on March 29, 2013, that Fine intended to file a defamation of character suit against ESPN in regard to how it handled the story. [15] During the lawsuit, it was discovered that two ESPN executives (including the editor-in-chief of ESPN) "criticized the network's reporting on the story and said it went against ESPN's internal guidelines" in publicizing uncharged claims. [16] In March 2016, a federal judge dismissed a libel lawsuit filed by Fine's wife, Laurie, against ESPN over the television network's reporting. [17]

After Syracuse

In August 2015 Syracuse and Boeheim settled a slander lawsuit brought by the former ball boys, regarding the coach's statement that the step-brothers were lying and were out for money by exploiting the Penn State sex abuse scandal. [18]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Boeheim</span> American basketball coach (born 1944)

James Arthur Boeheim Jr. is an American former college basketball coach and current Special Assistant to the Athletic Director at Syracuse University. From 1976 until 2023, he was the head coach of the Syracuse Orange men's team of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Boeheim guided the Orange to ten Big East Conference regular season championships, five Big East tournament championships, and 34 NCAA tournament appearances, including five Final Four appearances and three appearances in the national title game. In those games, the Orangemen lost to Indiana in 1987, and to Kentucky in 1996, before defeating Kansas in 2003 with All-American Carmelo Anthony.

The Syracuse Orange men's basketball program is an intercollegiate men's basketball team representing Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York. The program is classified in the NCAA Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), and the team competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Hopkins (basketball)</span> American basketball player and coach

Michael Griffith Hopkins is an American basketball assistant coach for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Previously, he was a longtime assistant at Syracuse University before taking over as a college basketball head coach for University of Washington from 2017 until 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerry Sandusky</span> American college football coach and convicted child sex offender (born 1944)

Gerald Arthur Sandusky is an American convicted serial child molester and retired college football coach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eric Devendorf</span> American basketball player

Eric Michael Devendorf is an American former professional basketball player. Devendorf played at Syracuse from 2005 to 2009. He averaged 15.7 points per game in his final season at Syracuse. He ranks 14th on the school's all-time scoring list with 1,680 points. Despite having one more year of eligibility remaining, Devendorf decided to leave Syracuse and embark on a pro career. He spent the next seven years playing professionally in the NBA D-League and in foreign countries such as Ukraine, Israel, Greece and New Zealand. In October 2016, he returned to Syracuse after being appointed to head coach Jim Boeheim's staff as assistant strength coach.

The 2006–07 Syracuse Orange men's basketball team represented Syracuse University. The head coach was Jim Boeheim, serving for his 31st year. The team played its home games at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, New York. The team finished with a 24–11 (10–6) record, while making it to the quarterfinal round of the NIT tournament. The team was led by its three seniors, Demetris Nichols, Darryl Watkins and Terrence Roberts. Also seeing time in the starting lineup was senior Matt Gorman, junior Josh Wright, sophomores Eric Devendorf and Andy Rautins and freshman Paul Harris.

The American pop musician Michael Jackson first faced allegations of child sexual abuse in 1993. Evan Chandler, a dentist and screenwriter based in Los Angeles, accused Jackson of sexually abusing Chandler's 13-year-old son, Jordan. Jackson had befriended Jordan after renting a vehicle from Jordan's stepfather. Though Evan initially encouraged the friendship, he later confronted his ex-wife, who had custody of Jordan, with suspicions that the relationship was inappropriate.

Theodore Todd "Mookie" Jones IV is a 6'6", 190 lbs. forward who played basketball for the Syracuse Orange from 2008–2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2009–10 NCAA Division I men's basketball season</span> Basketball season

The 2009–10 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began on November 9, 2009, and ended with the 2010 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament's championship game on April 5, 2010, on the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The opening round occurred on Tuesday, March 16, 2010, followed by first and second rounds on Thursday through Sunday, March 18–21, 2010. Regional games were played on Thursday through Sunday, March 25–28, 2010, with the Final Four played on Saturday and Monday, April 3 and 5, 2010.

The 2011–12 Big East Conference men's basketball season was the 33rd season of competitive basketball played by the Big East Conference, since its inception in 1979, and involved its 16 full-time member schools. The season officially opened on December 27, 2011, when Notre Dame defeated Pittsburgh, 72–59, and St. John's defeated Providence, 91–67, and ended on March 3, 2012, with a 61–58 victory for Rutgers over St. John's.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2011–12 NCAA Division I men's basketball season</span> Basketball season

The 2011–12 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began on November 7, 2011, with the and ended with the 2012 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament's championship game on April 2, 2012, at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. The tournament began with four first-round games on March 13–14, 2012 in Dayton, Ohio, US, followed by second and third rounds on Thursday through Sunday, March 15–18, 2012. Regionals games were played on Thursday through Sunday, March 22–25, 2012, with the Final Four played on Saturday and Monday, March 31 and April 2, 2012.

The 2011–12 Syracuse Orange men's basketball team represented Syracuse University in the 2011–12 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The head coach, Jim Boeheim, served for his 36th year. The team played its home games at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, New York and is a member of the Big East Conference.

The Penn State child sex abuse scandal concerned allegations and subsequent convictions of child sexual abuse committed by Jerry Sandusky, an assistant coach for the Penn State Nittany Lions football team, over a period of at least fifteen years. The scandal began to emerge publicly in March 2011 and broke in early November 2011 when Sandusky was indicted on 52 counts of child molestation, stemming from incidents that occurred between 1994 and 2009. Sandusky was ultimately convicted on 45 counts of child sexual abuse on June 22, 2012, and was sentenced to a minimum of 30 years and a maximum of 60 years in prison. Of the 10 victims who were listed, only eight appeared at trial. All were over the age of 18 by the time they testified. Six were over 21.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Timothy Curley</span>

Timothy M. Curley is a former athletic director for Penn State University.

The 2012–13 Syracuse Orange men's basketball team represented Syracuse University in the 2012–13 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The head coach, Jim Boeheim, served for his 37th year. The team played its home games at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, New York and was a member of the Big East Conference. This team reached the Final Four for the fifth time in program history.

The 2014–15 Syracuse Orange men's basketball team represented Syracuse University during the 2014–15 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Orange were led by thirty-ninth-year head coach Jim Boeheim and played their home games at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, New York. They were second-year members of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).

The Syracuse University athletics scandal involved violations of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) rules by the Syracuse University men's basketball and football programs.

The 2015–16 Syracuse Orange men's basketball team represented Syracuse University during the 2015–16 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Orange were led by 40th-year head coach Jim Boeheim and played its home games at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, New York. They were third year members of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). The Orange finished the season 23–14, 9–9 in ACC play to finish in a tie for 9th place. They lost to Pittsburgh in the second round of the ACC tournament. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament as a #10 seed where they defeated Dayton, Middle Tennessee, Gonzaga, and Virginia to reach the Final Four for the sixth time in school history. At the Final Four, the Orange lost to North Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Syracuse–UConn rivalry</span> American college sports rivalry

The Syracuse–UConn rivalry is a sports rivalry between the Syracuse Orange of Syracuse University and the UConn Huskies of the University of Connecticut. The rivalry started in men's basketball while both schools were members of the Big East conference, and is slowly growing across other sports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">USA Gymnastics sex abuse scandal</span> Sexual abuse of young athletes by coaches and other adults from 1992–2016

The USA Gymnastics sex abuse scandal relates to the sexual abuse of hundreds of gymnasts—primarily minors—over two decades in the United States, starting in the 1990s. It is considered the largest sexual abuse scandal in sports history.

References

  1. "Bernie Fine fired amid abuse allegations". ESPN New York. 11 November 2011. Retrieved 28 November 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 "Bernie Fine". Syracuse University. Archived from the original on November 24, 2011. Retrieved 2012-03-07.
  3. "Bernie Fine has spent 30 seasons building bonds with SU players". Cstv.com. Archived from the original on May 24, 2011. Retrieved 2012-03-07.
  4. Bernie Fine's firing marks the end of more than 35 years as an assistant | syracuse.com
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "Bernie Fine investigation ends with no charges against fired SU coach" | syracuse.com
  6. Mike McAndrew / The Post-Standard (18 November 2011). "Syracuse University assistant coach Bernie Fine accused of sexual abuse; university places him on leave". syracuse.com. Retrieved 2012-03-07.
  7. Strauss, Valerie (November 19, 2011). "Syracuse chancellor's letter to alumni". The Washington Post.
  8. "Syracuse police investigating Bernie Fine about molesting boy in 1980s". ESPN. 2011-11-18. Retrieved 2012-03-07.
  9. "Third accuser says Syracuse coach Bernie Fine sexually abused him as child". syracuse.com. 27 November 2011. Retrieved 2012-03-07.
  10. 1 2 "Syracuse basketball coach fired amid sex abuse investigation". CNN. November 27, 2011. Retrieved November 27, 2011.
  11. Cantor, Nancy (30 November 2011). "Syracuse chancellor: We didn't know of the tape until Sunday". USA Today . Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  12. Berke, Ronni (April 13, 2012). "Man says his allegations about Bernie Fine sex abuse were lies". CNN. Retrieved April 14, 2012.
  13. "Bernie Fine's fourth accuser, Floyd VanHooser, recants: 'I told a lot of lies'" | syracuse.com
  14. "Former Syracuse basketball coach Bernie Fine won't be charged". The Post Standard. 9 November 2012. Retrieved 9 November 2012.
  15. "Ex-Syracuse coach to sue ESPN". CNN. March 29, 2013.
  16. "ESPN executives said network 'lowered the bar' in Bernie Fine reporting" – The Washington Post
  17. O'Brien, John (26 March 2016). "Bernie Fine case done: His wife's libel lawsuit against ESPN is dismissed". Syracuse.com. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
  18. "Syracuse, Jim Boeheim settle slander lawsuit brought by former ball boys". ESPN. Associated Press. 6 August 2015. Retrieved 28 March 2016.