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Former Indiana University Indianapolis men’s basketball coach Paul Corsaro on Tuesday denied the school’s assertion that he mistreated student-athletes and called the decision to release him “deeply disheartening.”
In a post on X, Corsaro said he will “vigorously defend the reputation I have worked tirelessly to build.”
His statement came several hours after IU Indianapolis said that it had fired Corsaro for how he treated his players.
“Last month, IU Indianapolis Athletics received allegations from six individuals who had played under Coach Paul Corsaro at IU Indianapolis,” the school said in a statement. “Based on the complaints, the IU Office of Vice President and General Counsel conducted an investigation and concluded that Corsaro’s behavior did not meet the university’s values and standards regarding the treatment of student athletes.”
The school said the search for a new coach would begin immediately.
Corsaro said on X that he plans to appeal his firing. And he said he was disappointed the university released its statement without giving him an opportunity to file that written appeal “per the terms of my contract.”
He said IU officials had “consistently refused to provide any documentation that initiated and substantiated these claims” of mistreatment.
The 36-year-old Indianapolis native went 10-24 overall and 6-14 in the Horizon League in his only season with the Jaguars.
Corsaro was considered an up-and-comer in the coaching ranks when he left the University of Indianapolis last spring after four seasons. He posted a 79-37 mark with the Greyhounds, topping the 20-win mark and making NCAA Division II Tournament runs in each of his final two seasons at his alma mater.
Corsaro was named the Great Lakes Valley Conference and Midwest Region Coach of the Year in 2022-23.
On X, Corsaro said he and his staff had “fostered a strong culture, the significance of which was strongly overlooked by some.”
“Over the last several weeks, I held onto my faith in the university’s process and remained confident, until today, that I would have the privilege of continuing to lead the IU Indy men’s basketball team,” Corsaro said on X. “My focus is now on clearing my name and rebuilding the reputation that has been unfairly damaged.”
Corsaro played both football and basketball in college. After graduating from Indianapolis in 2012, he joined the Greyhounds staff and worked there until 2017-18. Following two seasons as an assistant coach at Purdue Fort Wayne, he took the head coaching job at Indianapolis.
IU Indianapolis said it will conduct a national search for Corsaro’s successor.
The AP contributed to this report.
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