Restricting coach from recruiting players with tattoos too far?

Credit: Ethan Miller

Credit: Ethan Miller

Oral Roberts fired men's basketball coach Scott Sutton on Monday after 18 years.

It has been reported that:

Sources close to the program are now speaking out against the move, saying Sutton was crippled in the past two season by bizarre recruiting restrictions placed on his program by the school's president, Billy Wilson.

The sources spoke to Tulsa World and KOTV, and said that once Wilson took office in 2013, he ordered Sutton to stop recruiting players who had tattoos. Prospective players also had to prove they were Christian with a 'faith exam.'

If so, those may be tougher recruiting guidelines than any academic standard cited by any program.

Sutton (328-247) was the school’s winningest coach. He led the Golden Eagles to three straight NCAA tournament from 2006 to 2008.

There are a number of NBA players who fashion ink on the court. Several have tattoos with religious meaning. Would that make a difference?

Here are a few:

Credit: Andy Lyons

Credit: Andy Lyons

Credit: Bruce Bennett

Credit: Bruce Bennett

Credit: Ezra Shaw

Credit: Ezra Shaw