“I am deeply thankful for the tremendous support of our fans, alumni, and everyone associated with Florida State throughout my time here,” Hamilton said in a statement in a release issued by FSU Athletics on Monday. “I am proud of the quality of the young men that it was my privilege to lead, for their faith in this program and in their belief in the philosophy that we tried to instill in them over the years. I have been blessed beyond words for the opportunity and the experience we’ve had here.”
Nice try at PR there.
The suit referenced above was filed in December by six former players, including one, Jalen Warley, who was, very briefly, a member of the UVA Basketball program, alleging that Hamilton reneged on promised $250,000 NIL payouts.
ICYMI
“The Plaintiffs in this matter, who were on the FSU men’s basketball roster during the 2023-24 season, were all made the same promise by Hamilton. If they committed to and remained enrolled at FSU, performing for the men’s basketball team, then they would each receive $250,000.00. Hamilton promised this sum of money directly and reinforced it many times over to the Plaintiffs and their family members,” the suit alleges.
Per the suit, the group – including Warley, Darin Green Jr., De’Ante Green, Cam’Ron Fletcher, Josh Nickleberry and Primo Spears – threatened to boycott the Feb. 17, 2024, home game with Duke over the non-payment issue.
“Hamilton panicked,” the suit alleges. “In a team meeting where all scholarship players were present, Hamilton reiterated that each player would be paid $250,000.00 and that it would hit their accounts the following week. Hamilton stated that he understood why the players were frustrated and committed to fully paying each player $250,000.00 before the conclusion of the 2023-24 men’s basketball season.”
The only surprise with today’s news is that it wasn’t announced sooner.
“Coach Hamilton’s personal character and integrity, and his leadership, set a tremendous standard for all of FSU Athletics,” said FSU Vice President and Director of Athletics Michael Alford in a statement on Monday.
This Alford guy must be familiar with the writing of George Orwell.
“Few people have been as important in building the positive reputation of Seminole Athletics,” Alford said. FSU’s stature as one of the leading brands in college sports has been possible, in part, to his leadership of our men’s basketball program. He steadily developed a culture of excellence that reflects his personal values: commitment to academic success, competitive success, community service, leadership, and ongoing personal excellence. The success of the men who have been part of our basketball program is proof of that legacy.”
This move gets FSU on the clock for identifying and vetting candidates to be the next guy.
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Chris Graham
