 "Photo: Matt Johnson")
Women's basketball head coach Lee Buchanan has been placed on paid administrative leave after allegations have prompted an investigation by the Office of Equal Opportunity, according to Curt Coonrod, vice provost for student affairs.
Administrators are keeping mum about what exactly those allegations are, and the director of the Office of Equal Opportunity has not returned telephone calls placed to her office this morning.
The coach was placed on administrative leave on Dec. 12, according to Athletic Director Pat Dolan.
Dolan cancelled the women's basketball team's home game against Harris Stowe on Dec. 19. Rich Fanning, athletic director for Harris-Stowe State University, said he was told the reason for the cancellation was "a coaching issue."
Several women's basketball players said they were told not to discuss the situation.
The women's basketball team has been sent home and they will return to regular practice on Dec. 26, Dolan said.
For now, she said, assistant coach Sheila Hering will take over coaching duties.
Buchanan has been head coach at UM-St. Louis since August, 2003. Buchanan makes $42,840 a year, according to the Missouri "Blue Book" published by the Secretary of State's office.
Buchanan has been coaching collegiate basketball for 18 years, with 16 years as head coach. Before coming to UM-St. Louis, Buchanan was associate head coach at Division I Southern Mississippi. Prior to that, he worked at Brescia University in Owensboro, Ky., and then at Francis Marion in Florence, S.C.
Buchanan could not be reached for comment.
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