University of Tulsa's president announced that athletic director Ross Parmley has been fired from his position with immediate effect Tuesday.
Earlier, Parmley was sent on paid administrative leave by the university, as he was under investigation following his connection with a gambling case. He came under the scanner after he was linked to the infamous Oklahoma City gambler Teddy Mitchell.
Mitchell is accused of running a major gambling operation and laundering about $8 million. He is charged with 81 counts of gambling along with other eight people, said reports.
The university launched its own investigation, based on an FBI report, which described Parmley as an "admitted gambler."
President Steadman Upham, released a note announcing the decision to sack Parmley from the university. He said that the reputation of the college was at stake after Parmley was exposed.
Upham's statement said:
Today, I terminated the employment of TU Athletic Director Ross Parmley. His departure from the university is effective immediately.
I am saddened to make this announcement for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that I considered Ross a true professional in intercollegiate athletics...
Ross Parmley is keenly aware of NCAA regulations regarding compliance issues. Since being hired by TU in 2005, Ross has annually signed an official document certifying that he had no knowledge of any NCAA violations involving The University of Tulsa...
Later he admitted he was not truthful and was immediately put on administrative leave and, at my direction, TU notified the NCAA. We subsequently launched our own internal investigation.
TU is cooperating fully with officials from the NCAA to comprehensively investigate this matter and bring it to a fair and proper conclusion. This a difficult time for TU and we realize that our reputation is at stake. We are determined to uncover the whole truth in every aspect of this case.
