Bjork updates women’s basketball situation

Highlights from Ole Miss AD Ross Bjork as he addressed media regarding the situation for women’s basketball:

- Head coach Adrian Wiggins was placed on administrative leave on Saturday when two of his assistants were fired. Bjork made it clear that while Wiggins is on leave, he will not coach again at Ole Miss. This not because he has been implicated in wrongdoing amid charges of impermissible recruiting contact and academic misconduct, but because Bjork said as head coach he should have done more to prevent it.

- The standard is high for Ole Miss coaches, Bjork said. “Know everything and do everything you can to have all the information on the table regarding how we recruit and why we recruit.” Bjork cited Ole Miss football coach Hugh Freeze as a good example of holding to this standard.

- Wiggins was informed that he would no longer be coach on Saturday morning. Bjork met with the team at noon.

- The “on leave” part of the equation comes because Bjork wanted to give Wiggins and his family some measure of financial stability during a time of transtion. He was under contract for $400,000 a year. He will be paid the montly equivalent of a $225,000 per year salary through March 31. This represents the state money part of his salary. The remainder was to be paid through the UMAA Foundation and will no longer be paid.

- An NCAA investigation into the allegations that resulted in the firing of assistant coach Kenya Landers and director of basketball operations Michael Landers is on-going. Bjork said the school will cooperate fully and is considering self-imposed sanctions.

- A final decision on an interim coach has not been made. The three remaining staff members – including long-time Wiggins assistant Brett Frank – will lead the team in the meantime. Bjork said he’s working to have an interim in place ASAP.