Ohio Director of Athletics Kirby Hocutt released this past Friday the details of four student-athletes' suspensions and announced that an assistant wrestling coach has been placed on leave.
In a news release, Hocutt said assistant wrestling coach Kyle Hansen, who was charged in August for operating a vehicle while intoxicated, has been placed on paid administrative leave and will not take part in any team activities until that case is resolved. Hansen is scheduled to appear in Athens County Municipal Court on Oct. 19.
Following Hansen's initial charge, the athletic department had a written no-tolerance agreement with him, but in light of developing a new code of conduct, Hocutt placed him on leave.
I can't say I disagree with the decision
but it hasn't been consistent across the board said head wrestling coach Joel Greenlee. A precedent had been set.
The most publicized recent discipline of an Ohio coach came this past November when Ohio football coach Frank Solich was convicted of drunken driving. The university placed Solich on probation for the remainder of his contract and required him to educate students about the dangers of drinking.
While Hansen has been placed on leave after his initial charge and Solich faced probation after being convicted Hocutt said he did not look to the previous incident when making this decision.
I cannot look back to almost a year ago and make my decisions today based on what we did 11 months ago, Hocutt said. Obviously Ohio athletics is in a new place and new time.Student-athlete suspensions
Paul Johnson
22
a junior offensive lineman
has been suspended from the Ohio football program for the rest of the academic year after being convicted Sept. 21 for misdemeanor assault.
With the completion of a required anger management evaluation and counseling program
along with good behavior and academic standing
Johnson could be reinstated to the football program following the 2006-07 year.
Any time a judge makes a decision as was made in Paul Johnson's case, that's very serious and that's something that we're not going to accept from our student-athletes, Hocutt said.
The three other student-athletes who were suspended indefinitely last Monday ' Wesley Dunlap
20
and Tommy Stuck
20
