California coach Cuonzo Martin is a prime candidate for the Georgia Tech coaching opening, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
The Chronicle cited multiple unnamed sources indicating that Tech and Athletic Director Mike Bobinski have zeroed in on Martin, who has been at California for the past two seasons after three seasons at Tennessee.
Martin’s overall record over eight seasons is 165-108. Martin led Cal to a 23-11 record this season and an NCAA tournament appearance. He has a reputation as an ace recruiter. Martin convinced Wheeler High grad Jaylen Brown, one of the top recruits in the 2015 class, to leave the South to play at Cal.
Starting in the 2011-12 season, Martin led Tennessee to seasons of 19-15, 20-13 and 24-13, reaching the Sweet 16 in his final year. He left for California amid considerable fan favor for former coach Bruce Pearl over Martin.
Martin, however, is reportedly under campus review for his possible role in a sexual-harassment case that resulted in the firing of assistant coach Yann Hufnagel in March. It was alleged that Hufnagel sexually harassed a reporter. The investigation reportedly seeks to find if Martin followed school policy for supervisors and managers to report sexual-harassment allegations.
Reports suggest that Martin knew of the allegations for more than a month before informing the school’s office for prevention of harassment and discrimination. Martin reportedly told investigators that he was at first unaware that the reporter’s complaint involved sexual harassment.
“The university is reviewing whether anyone had reason to believe that Hufnagel was in violation of the campus’s sexual harassment policy prior to July 5,” said a campus statement. “Coach Martin is included among this group of people, but is not a target of an investigation.”
Wednesday is the 12th full day of Tech’s search. Bobinski has not lacked for candidates, including former Valparaiso coach Bryce Drew, Duke assistant coach Jeff Capel, Boston Celtics assistant coach Jay Larranaga and Harvard coach Tommy Amaker, but not had success yet in securing a new coach.
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