University of Minnesota fires wrestling coach after drug probe

Updated 5:10 p.m. | Posted 3:35 p.m.

The University of Minnesota said Wednesday that it fired its legendary head wrestling coach J Robinson, effective immediately.

The move comes months after the team was roiled by allegations that Robinson knew wrestlers were improperly using the potent anti-anxiety drug Xanax.

Robinson was fired because he was "not forthcoming with his superiors in reporting his suspicions about [athletes] selling and abusing prescription medications," athletics director Mark Coyle told reporters Wednesday afternoon.

"While he did report drug suspicions, he chose not to share many other important details about what he knew," Coyle said as he released the university's report. "He did not fully cooperate with our investigation into the matter. He did not meet with us for interviews promptly, and when he did he did not answer some of our most critical questions."

Coyle said he had a "great deal of respect" for Robinson, but added "that respect cannot excuse his conduct in this instance."

The turmoil began earlier this year after an anonymous source told the university through its confidential reporting system that Robinson had attempted to cover for about a dozen student athletes who were either selling or using Xanax.

The university launched its own investigation in May. On June, 1 Coyle's first day as athletics director, Robinson was placed on paid leave.

In late June, the Hennepin County Attorney's Office declined to file charges, citing "lack of evidence."

A heavily redacted police report revealed that Robinson was interviewed by investigators but declined to answer some specific questions, saying it was a confidential matter and he was taking care of it internally. He said he'd talked to his players in confidence and assured them nothing they discussed would be divulged.

Documents released Wednesday by the university included a letter from Coyle to Robinson saying the longtime coach didn't have authority to promise confidentiality or amnesty to his student-athletes.

"Given your conduct, your refusal to obey my directives, and your failure to accept responsibility for your actions, you can no longer continue in your position," Coyle wrote to Robinson.

Coyle also released Robinson's written response to the university's findings. In it, Robinson accuses the university of trying to make him the fall guy.

"I do not intend to address each inaccuracy and/or omission in the report because there are far too many," Robinson wrote. "For now, suffice it to say that the report sacrifices accuracy to create a narrative to support a pre-detennined outcome to find fault with me and exculpate the university and senior employees in the Athletic Department."

The report, he added, "is filled with excuses for the university's failure to act and masks the lack of adequate policy guidance and support to assist coaches in addressing situations involving and helping student athletes with drug issues."

The university said acting head coach Brandon Eggum will assume the position of interim head coach for this coming season.

Coyle said he met with university wrestlers earlier in the day Wednesday.

"I'm sure they were surprised" by the firing, Coyle said. "But we talk about being truthful and being honest, and in this case that did not happen."