COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech University has
terminated the employment of head tennis coach Dan Silverstein.
The action occurred Monday following a visit from a National
Collegiate Athletic Association staff member who came to the
Tennessee Tech campus at the initiation of the Athletics
Department.
Tech Athletics officials discovered a potential problem,reported
it to the NCAA and requested assistance. The NCAA sent an
enforcement representative from the Agents, Gambling and Amateurism
staff, who was at Tech last Wednesday.
“At our request, an NCAA staff member visited our campus to
assist us in gathering information regarding a possible NCAA
issue,”said Director of Athletics Mark Wilson. “After
additional information was considered, we decided to terminate
coach Silverstein’s employment for a number of reasons,
including suspicion of sports wagering. We have no indication that
any of these activities involved Tennessee Tech athletic
events.”
The decision to dismiss Silverstein was made at Tennessee
Tech’s discretion and not at the direction of the NCAA.
“We concluded that this issue is an isolated incident
related to coach Silverstein and does not involve student-athletes
or other members of the Tennessee Tech Athletics staff,”
Wilson said. “There is no evidence that any other NCAA rules
violations occurred, and this does not affect the eligibility of
Tennessee Tech’s student-athletes.
“We will file a joint report with the NCAA Enforcement
Staff. We are confident there will be no further NCAA action taken
againstTennessee Tech Athletics after submission of this
report.
“The actions we have taken have been swift and appropriate,
and we have provided all information to the NCAA,” Wilson
said.
Silverstein served one season as head coach of the Tech
men’s and women’s tennis teams. His men’s team
finished 2008-09 with a 12-8overall record, including a 6-2 mark in
the Ohio Valley Conference. Thewomen’s team was 7-10 overall
and 6-3 in the conference.
“Tennis is important to Tennessee Tech, and we will begin a
national search immediately for a new tennis coach,” Wilson
said. “We want to assure our student-athletes, fans, alumni
and supporters that we will find an outstanding coach."
April 16, 2009
O'Brien, Holtzhausen and Kirstein honored by OVC
April 15, 2009
Sophomore Dean O'Brien takes home fourth weekly OVC honor
April 14, 2009
Tech tennis teams bid for OVC titles this weekend in Paducah
April 10, 2009
Tech Tennis drops final home matches of season to EKU
April 2, 2009
Holtzhausen, O'Brien earned second straight OVC honor
April 1, 2009
Golden Eagles get clean sweep of Govs, 7-0
March 26, 2009
Holtzhausen, O'Brien take both weekly OVC awards
March 21, 2009
Golden Eagle men win, women lose in matches with UT Martin
March 18, 2009
Golden Eagle netters tripped by No. 62 Georgia Tech, 5-2
March 18, 2009
Tech and UTC split matches before conference play starts
March 13, 2009
Tech Tennis splits matches with powerhouse West Florida
February 21, 2009
Tech falls by slimmest of margins to Butler, 4-3
February 20, 2009
Tech returns from two-week layoff to trounce ISU Sycamores, 6-1
February 19, 2009
Sophomore Dean O'Brien earns ITA National Ranking
February 10, 2009
Borja Zarco recipient of annual Johnny Donnelly Scholarship
January 24, 2009
Unbeaten O'Brien claims another win, but tennis team drops 6-1 match
January 23, 2009
Men's tennis team meets strong Middle Tennessee team in Nashville
January 18, 2009
O'Brien knocks off No. 29 in singles, Tech drops two on road
December 31, 2008
Golden Eagle men's tennis team opens spring season this weekend
November 19, 2008
Golden Eagle Tennis is looking for past players
October 22, 2008
Golden Eagles put up fight at ITA Fall Regional
October 15, 2008
Golden Eagles get ready for ITA Regionals at Kentucky
October 12, 2008
Golden Eagles look toward ITA Regionals after scrimmage