Smith departs

~ Ishee will remain as the acting coach for the rest of the season.

John Ishee said the members of the Southeast Missouri State women's basketball team knew the end of B.J. Smith's coaching tenure was near an end.

"I think they had already come to the conclusion that this was inevitable," said Ishee, who had been the acting coach for the team since Smith was placed on paid leave on Nov. 9, two days before the opener at Tulsa.

On Wednesday, the end of Smith's era -- the most successful four-year run since Southeast moved to Division I before the 1991-1992 school year -- became official.

Smith and the university made a joint announcement on Smith's resignation Wednesday. It was effective retroactive to last Friday, though Smith signed the agreement Tuesday and university president Dr. Kenneth Dobbins signed it Wednesday.

B.J. Smith resigned this week, reaching an agreement with the university that states the resignation was in the best interests of both parties. (Southeast Missourian file)

The news release from the university said "Smith has decided that it is in his and the university's best interests that he voluntarily resign from the university." The release also said the university has accepted his resignation.

The "best interests" wording is included in the resignation and release agreement obtained from the university through a request for the document under Missouri's Sunshine Law.

That agreement also notes that Smith will be paid his base salary through May 31, 2007. He reached a three-year deal with the university in April that pays him $75,000 annually, which means he will receive approximately $37,500 over the next six months. He will be paid $6,250 in December, then receive 50 percent of the remaining balance in January, and then receive equal payments for the rest of the amount monthly from February to May.

The agreement also says Smith cannot attend practices, games or team meetings for Southeast women's basketball through May, with the exception of the Jan. 20 game against Tennessee State, when the university plans to honor the program's 2005-2006 Ohio Valley Conference championship and its first NCAA tournament berth.

That 2005-2006 season was the best in the program's history, a 22-9 campaign that featured an OVC regular-season co-championship and the school's first OVC tournament title. The Redhawks lost to Stanford in Denver in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

Smith had led Southeast to a 22-8 season and an OVC runner-up finish in 2004-2005.

He also had winning records in 2002-2003 (19-11) and 2003-2004 (16-13).

His record of 79-41 in four seasons was the best in the OVC over that span, and his conference mark of 51-17 also was the best in the league.

But Smith's program, which had been the subject of an internal probe in 2003, had come under scrutiny from the conference commissioner's office and the NCAA.

Dobbins, who had been presented with information about possible violations in the program last winter, asked OVC commissioner Dr. Jon Steinbrecher to conduct an investigation of the allegations. The OVC hired The Compliance Group, which released a report this summer that found violations in seven areas, including inappropriate transportation for prospective student-athletes and inappropriate lodging arrangements. The university enacted seven sanctions from the report, including a reduction of women's basketball scholarships for this school year from 15 to 12. The sanctions also included a reduction in recruiting days and kept Smith on campus in July to monitor summer activities, which also had been an area of violations.

The NCAA is continuing its portion of the joint investigation and has yet to release its letter of allegations the university.

The Southeast Missourian reported that a class Smith was teaching this semester, "Coaching of Basketball," came to the attention of NCAA investigators because the class had met infrequently from the start of the school year, Aug. 21, to the time the university placed Smith on paid personal leave Nov. 9.

University officials will not confirm details related to the class.

Ishee has been running the team, which has a 2-3 record with three losses to NCAA tournament teams from last year, in Smith's absence. Ishee will continue in that role through the end of this season, athletic director Don Kaverman said Wednesday.

Kaverman said the university expects to conduct a search for Smith's successor in the spring, and said "absolutely" that Ishee could be considered for the position if he wishes.

But the acting coach, who had been a volunteer assistant at Southeast in Smith's first season and coached at Division II New Mexico Highlands University before returning to Southeast this year, said the remainder of this season is foremost on his mind.

"I'm just focused on the team right now," he said. "That's my only concern."

Ishee was informed of the resignation while traveling on the bus for the Redhawks' game tonight at Tennessee State.

He informed the players Wednesday evening.

"I think they took it fine. I don't think it was a big shock," he said. "We just have to go ahead with the season like we've been doing. They're a great group, and they've been handling it well all year."

Kaverman said the university is continuing its cooperation with the NCAA, which initially had been expected to conclude its investigation months ago.

"We're in an ongoing process of working with them in a cooperative fashion to resolve issues with the women's basketball program," Kaverman said.

No one at the university has confirmed reports that the "Coaching of Basketball" class has become part of the NCAA probe nor many details about the class. The Southeast Missourian reported last month that Smith only attended a handful of classes, and that students receiving midsemester grades despite not being required to do much, if anything, for the classes Smith missed.

Since student-athletes, including women's basketball players, were in the class, the NCAA has questioned the academic integrity of the class, the Southeast Missourian has reported.

Dr. Joe Pujol, chair of the health, human performance and recreation department, told the Southeast Missourian on Wednesday that students had approached him during the semester with concerns about the class.

"Students did come forward, and I received a letter from a student that sought intervention," said Pujol, who made one appearance before the class prior to Smith's leave.

Pujol said Smith was teaching a class at Southeast for the first time this semester, teaching a class previously instructed by former men's basketball coach Gary Garner.

He would not confirm the number of classes Smith taught. "It's part of a personnel issue, and I can't comment on that," Pujol said.

Carroll Williams will teach the class for the rest of the semester, and Pujol said the class has met regularly since the change of instructors.

Smith, who had to turn in his university cell phone under the agreement, could not be reached for comment. The agreement includes language on the nature of the comments Smith can make about the university or its officials.

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Agreement terms

Key points in the resignation agreement reached by former Southeast Missouri State women's basketball coach B.J. Smith and the university this week. The agreement was signed Tuesday by Smith and Wednesday by university president Dr. Kenneth Dobbins.

• Smith acknowledges and agrees that he submitted his voluntary resignation to be effective Dec. 1, that the university accepted his resignation and that his employment ended Nov. 30.
• The university agrees to pay Smith an agreement equivalent to his base salary for the period through May 31, 2007. Smith will receive his payment for December in that month, then receive 50 percent of the remaining amount at the end of January and equal monthly installmnents for the rest of the amount through May.
• The university and Smith will work cooperatively and in good faith with one another and the NCAA, in an effort toward resolving the pending NCAA infractions investigation through the NCAA summary disposition process.
• The parties agree that a public statement will be released stating that Smith has decided it is in his and the university's best interests that he voluntarily resign.
• The university agrees, if contacted by prospective employers, the university will state only that Smith voluntarily resigned from the university for personal reasons, because he decided it was in his and the university's best interests. The university may provide dates of employment and positions held.
• Smith agrees that he will not make negative or disparaging comments of any nature regarding the university, its officers, administrators, employees, agents, representatives or programs, in any manner detrimental to the best interests of the university, or solicit or encourage others to do so.
• Smith will return the motor vehicle provided for his use no later than Dec. 4, and shall also return the cell phone and other property provided to him for his use as an employee.
• Smith releases the university from any and all claims, actions, demands or liability of whatever kind or nature, including but not limited to any claims or actions based on constructive discharge or wrongful termination or claims based on discrimination. Smith waives any claim, demand or right to reinstatement or rehiring to any position with the university.In turn, the university releases Smith from any claims, actions or demands related to Smith's employment with the university.
• Smith will not attend any Southeast women's basketball practices, games (home or away) or team meetings or have any contact with any student-athlete through May 31, with the exception of the unveiling of the OVC women's basketball championship banner on Jan. 20 at the Show Me Center if he elects to attend.