Two days after announcing it was ending its season early, New Mexico State fired men’s basketball coach Greg Heiar in the wake of hazing allegations.
Chancellor Dan Arvizu announced the firing of Heiar on Tuesday, saying, “hazing has no place on our campus, and those found responsible will be held accountable for their actions.” Arvizu said decisions about the rest of the coaching staff’s future will be made after further investigation.
NEW MEXICO STATE ENDS BASKETBALL SEASON AFTER HAZING SCANDAL
Arvizu said on Sunday the team would not play its remaining five games and that the school had informed the Western Athletic Conference about its decision. The Aggies had a 9-15 record during the 2022-2023 season and were in last place in the WAC under their first-year head coach.
The scandal surfaced after a police report cited three players with false imprisonment, harassment, and criminal sexual contact for actions against a teammate. The police report says the incidents had been occurring since July or August 2022, with the most recent event happening on Feb. 6. The players have not been named.
This most recent incident allegedly involved the three players holding down one player and slapping his bare backside. The player alleges he was unable to do anything because it was a “3-on-1 type of situation.” He also told police no one intervened and that there was a possibility other players were subjected to this type of treatment.
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The 47-year-old Heiar was previously an assistant for former Aggies coach Chris Jans, who left after last season to coach Mississippi State. Heiar was also formerly an assistant coach at LSU.
In addition to New Mexico State’s on-court struggles leading to their 9-15 record, the hazing scandal is not the only off-the-court issue that has plagued the team. In November, starting forward Mike Peake was involved in a gunfight that left one person dead. Peake was suspended from the team but has not been charged with a crime.
