University of Alaska-Anchorage has fired its athletic director, Steve Cobb, effective immediately, after being embroiled in a controversy that began with the expulsion of the Seawolves' hockey coach, Dave Shyiak, late march. Cobb was with the university for 13 years.
Senior associate athletic director Tim McDiffett will serve as acting athletic.
"Dr. Cobb's legacy at UAA includes a number of remarkable achievements of which we are all proud," said UAA chancellor Tom Case in a statement. "However, it has become clear in recent days that despite his efforts, Steve will not be able to bring all elements of the public together in support of UAA and that criticism of Steve has become a distraction from the great work that UAA does every day. Though it's necessary for us to move ahead under new leadership in Seawolf athletics, Dr. Cobb's outstanding contributions to our student-athletes, the community and to Seawolf Nation have been unprecedented."
Cobb said that Patrick Gamble, the university president, decided to suspend him without consulting even one employee of the UAA athletic department or staff member or coach.
Patrick Gamble was forced to take a stance on the insistence of Governor Sean Parnell.
"Patrick Gamble may be mentally ill," Cobb said. "When you give away the university to Ashley Reed and a few local scoundrels, you are by definition insane and I intend to prove it in court." "I am suffering secondary embarrassment for the university that I loved and devoted almost thirteen years of my life."
Ashley Reed, a lobbyist, was one of the individuals to request Parnell to look into the maters.
Cobb's tenure at the university created 210 All-American athletes, 121 Academic All-American athletes, 15 conference championships and nine NCAA West Region titles.
After the firing of Shyiak, Cobb failed to approach the Alaska State Hockey Association and the UAA Hockey Alumni Association and established a search committee to find a replacement for Shyiak on his own.
This act led to a 'no confidence' vote against Cobb by both the associations and a letter of discontent to the university president.
Case had to stop the search committee's proceeding and put into place another committee featuring program founder and former coach Brush Christianson and others from the hockey community.
Bill Spindle, vice chancellor for administrative services, has been given the responsibility to select a new hockey coach from a list of finalists.
Cobb was heavily criticized over his role in a 2011 incident in which Shyiak slashed a player, Nick Haddad, across the thighs with his stick during a practice. An investigation conducted by Cobb concluded that Shyiak was not guilty.
The video of the incident, which was released after Shyiak's departure, caused an outcry and forced the governor to intervene. A police investigation into the mater later, authorised by Case, found Shyiak not guilty.
"I have been assured by police that the investigation found no basis for recommending criminal charges against Coach Shyiak, or anyone else," Case said. "I am particularly pleased that there was no evidence of intimidation of players and that the investigation confirmed that AD Cobb did in fact conduct a good faith review of the allegations at the time."
Case also said that it would have been much better to have directly contacted the police in 2011 to avoid the unnecessary confusion.
"Nevertheless, UAA takes seriously the need for students and student-athletes to feel safe at UAA and we will redouble our efforts to ensure that all students and employees understand reporting procedures for safety-related issues."