UAlbany Coach Dwayne Killings pleads not guilty to assaulting player in Kentucky
[anvplayer video=”5158949″ station=”998132″]
UAlbany men’s basketball coach Dwayne Killings has pleaded not guilty to assaulting a player.
Killings appeared virtually in Kentucky on Monday morning.
The misdemeanor charge comes from an incident in 2021. A former player says Killings threw him against a locker and hit him before a game at Eastern Kentucky University.
NewsChannel 13 obtained the criminal complaint from NBC affiliate, WLEX. The document said former UAlbany basketball player Luke Fizulich reported the incident to university police in Madison County, Kentucky.
Based on the document, he reported the alleged attack to police for the first time on November 1, 2022. Fizulich told police the incident took place at a road game against Eastern Kentucky University on November 24, 2021.
Albany head coach Dwayne Killings directs his team during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Kentucky in Lexington, Ky., Monday, Nov. 22, 2021. (AP Photo / James Crisp)
The criminal complaint, which mirrored a civil suit filed in late 2022, said Killings pushed Fizulich against a locker and slapped him with an open hand as “several coaches and witnesses were present and saw this happen.” The complaint did not say whether police have verified that account with any possible witnesses.
The initial accusation in March 2022 led UAlbany to investigate. Killings was fined $25,000 and suspended five games.
[anvplayer video=”5158958″ station=”998132″]
Fizulich is no longer with the team.
NewsChannel 13’s sports department reached out to UAlbany. The university has not commented on the charges.
Killings claimed last year that the physical contact happened during a pre-game hype circle. Still, he called his actions inappropriate.
The university told NewsChannel 13’s sports department Monday that there was no change in the coaching lineup for the team’s next game on Wednesday at New Hampshire.