University sacks coach amid molestation probe

Syracuse University sacked associate head basketball coach Bernie Fine, who is under investigation for allegedly molesting young boys. "At the direction of Chancellor Cantor, Bernie Fine's employment with Syracuse University has been terminated, effective immediately," Kevin Quinn, the school's senior vice president for public affairs, said in a statement on Sunday. Fine, 65, was in his 36th season at the university he once attended. He had been placed on administrative leave earlier this month after the university learned authorities were investigating claims by two former Syracuse ball boys that Fine molested them. Fine, who has not been charged with any crime, has called the allegations "patently false". A third accuser has since reportedly come forward, saying Fine molested him in 2002 in a Pittsburgh hotel room, according to The Post-Standard of Syracuse. The accuser, 23-year-old Zach Tomaselli, is himself facing sexual assault charges in Maine involving a 14-year-old boy. One of the other accusers, 39-year-old Bobby Davis, told the sports network ESPN that Fine molested him beginning in 1984 and that they had sexual contact until he was about 27 years old. On Sunday, ESPN also played an audiotape, obtained and recorded by Davis, apparently of an October 2002 telephone conversation between him and Bernie Fine's wife, Laurie. On the tape, the woman said to be Laurie Fine says she had concerns about possible abuse by Fine but felt unable to take action. On Friday, federal authorities carried out a search at Fine's home in suburban Syracuse but gave no details of what they sought. The allegations against Fine come on the heels of another abuse scandal that rocked the mighty Pennsylvania State University football program. Former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky has been charged with sexually abusing eight boys over a 15-year period. Sandusky has said he is innocent, but outrage over the failure of university personnel to act on concerns about his behavior led to the ouster of iconic football coach Joe Paterno.