Men’s basketball assistant coach Scott Monarch has been dismissed from the program after it was discovered he lied about his activity with recruits while on campus, head coach Buzz Williams announced Friday.
Williams will also be suspended for the team’s Big East opener this season for his role in the matter. Williams made a statement in a press release sent out on Friday night expressing his disappointment in regards to the matter and took full responsibility for it.
“When I was allowed to review the report earlier this week, I was deeply saddened to learn of an error in judgment of one of my assistants and closest friends,” Williams said. “I take personal responsibility for what happens in this program and realize we must be role models to both our team and the entire university. Our commitment has always been and will always be to operate this program at the highest level of integrity in the Marquette and Jesuit tradition.”
The problem stems from an incident with Monarch giving athletic apparel and providing transportation to at least one recruit during campus visits. When questioned about his actions, Monarch “provided misleading information about the matter multiple times,” according to the release.
Monarch’s dismissal and the suspension of Williams were self-administered by Marquette in its report to the NCAA.
Athletic Director Larry Williams noted his disappointment because this matter went against the ideals of Marquette athletics.
“This situation reinforces the need to be focused not only on our rich competitive history but most importantly on the core values that underpin this very unique program – among the elite in the nation,” said Williams. “It was our obligation to take strong decisive steps as we took this matter extremely seriously. The NCAA has made the role of institutions quite clear in its proposed legislative changes to the penalty structure.”
The relationship between Monarch and Buzz Williams started when the duo worked together at New Orleans during the 2006-’07 season.
Monarch was an assistant coach and the recruiting coordinator at New Orleans, a role he filled while an employee at Marquette since Williams became the head coach.
Prior to that, Monarch also worked at Tyler Community College, where he coached former Golden Eagles Jimmy Butler and Joe Fulce. He was also the main recruiter of last season’s Big East Player of the Year, Jae Crowder.
With the dismissal of Monarch, the Golden Eagles have now lost four assistant coaches from last season’s staff. Tony Benford became the head coach at North Texas, and former Marquette assistant Bart Lundy joined his staff, while Aki Collins left to join the University of Memphis coaching staff.
