The University of Alabama has fired head baseball coach Brad Bohannon Thursday amidst bizarre allegations of ties to gambling interests and improper conduct that may have involved fixing one or more Alabama baseball games. The University said in a statement that Bohannon was fired for “among other things, violating the standards, duties, and responsibilities expected of University employees.”
This followed an ESPN report on Friday of “alleged suspicious activity” last Friday at the sportsbook at The Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Ohio Casino Commission is reportedly investigating alleged suspicious wagering on a game that Alabama lost to LSU on April 28. Bohannon’s team lost 8-6. The Ohio Casino Commission has suspended placing any bets on Alabama Baseball due to these allegations. New Jersey and Pennsylvania’s gaming commission have also suspended wagering on University of Alabama baseball.
None of the ESPN reports about the suspicious bets being tied to Bohannon have been officially confirmed as of press time,
Media reports claim that authorities believe that Bohannon may have somehow fixed the game. One casino customer made multiple bets on LSU to win the game. The casino commission was reportedly alerted to the alleged suspicious activity on Friday.
“We are aware of reports related to the suspension of wagering Alabama baseball games,” said SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey. “We will continue to monitor available information and any regulatory activity.
This incident, if true, confirms the worst fears of critics of the proliferation of legalized sports wagering.
“As many states have acted to legalize sports gambling, we are reminded of the threats gambling may pose on competitive integrity,” Sankey said. “Together with our member universities, we will continue to emphasize the importance of regulating, overseeing, and providing education related to sports gambling activity.”
In 2021 gambling proponents brought a plan for a legalized sports book along with a lottery and the legalization of Class I and Class II gambling at up to a dozen sites in the state to the Alabama Legislature. The controversial gambling bill passed the Alabama Senate but was thwarted in the House of Representatives largely because of divisions between legislators on what to do with the money.
The Alabama Citizens Action Program (ALCAP) led efforts to defeat that bill – as well as when gambling proponents brought the proposal back in 2022.
The ALCAP President/CEO at the time, Joe Godfrey, said on Facebook following Bohannon’s firing over alleged gambling, “I hope the gambling lobbyists and state legislators that are considering introducing sports betting legalization in Alabama will consider the corruption and dangers associated with sports gambling!”
Commissioner Sankey said Thursday that the University of Alabama took “swift action after information about baseball sports wagering activity was questioned by industry regulators.”
Bohannon has been the head coach since June 2017. He has a 166-124 record, including a 30-15 record this season. He even made one NCAA tournament appearance two years ago. He previously was an assistant coach with the Auburn Tigers baseball team.
The allegation is that the person who made the suspicious bets was communicating with Bohannon then. Again, this is very fresh reporting, and all of these allegations are unconfirmed at this time.
In the game, star Alabama pitcher Luke Holman was replaced as the pitcher at the last minute and replaced with Hagan Banks, who had not started a game since March 17.
Bohannon has been fired, and there is an ongoing investigation by the University, the SEC, and the Ohio Casino Commission. Jason Jackson has been appointed interim coach at the University of Alabama.
A source familiar with the investigation told ESPN’s Pete Thamel that there’s “no reason to believe any student-athletes are involved.”
Alabama defeated Number 5 Vanderbilt Thursday night in Tuscaloosa 11-2. This was the first time that Alabama baseball had defeated Vanderbilt since 2015.
“There must be zero tolerance for activity that puts into question the integrity of competition,” Sankey said. “We will remain in communication with the University throughout its ongoing review and will have no further comment at this time.”
Gambling proponents were expected to introduce another gaming bill in the 2023 Alabama Regular Legislative Session.
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