Former UAlbany basketball player sues coach, school

Former University at Albany men’s basketball player Luke Fizulich is suing Great Danes Head Coach Dwayne Killings, Athletic Director Mark Benson, and UAlbany.

The Daily Gazette first reported the lawsuit.

It alleges that under pressure from local business and civil rights leaders, who were “rallied up” by a public relations firm that Killings associated himself with, Benson and the university succumbed “to the pressure of the protest” and reversed the decision to terminate Killings – who is Black – and did not discuss the change with Fizulich, who is white.

After last season, UAlbany investigated what it called inappropriate physical contact between Killings and a student-athlete prior to a game. Killings was suspended five games and fined $25,000.

UAlbany released the following statement in response:

“The University at Albany is committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for all students and fully and impartially investigates all allegations of misconduct against University employees.

As the University has previously stated, it immediately began its investigation into this matter and took timely and appropriate action at each stage as new information became available. The University previously disclosed the resolution of that investigation on April 2, 2022.

The University cannot comment further on pending litigation.”