Alabama Fires Baseball Coach After ‘Suspicious’ Betting

The University of Alabama has fired its head coach after allegedly “suspicious” bets on the team were taken in Ohio and Indiana.

“Alabama director of athletics Greg Byrne announced he has initiated the termination process for head baseball coach Brad Bohannon for, among other things, violating the standards, duties, and responsibilities expected of University employees,” the university said in a statement Thursday morning. “Bohannon has been relieved of all duties and Jason Jackson will serve as the interim head coach. There will be no further comment at this time pending an ongoing review.”

According to ESPN, Bohannon could be in big trouble. “Sportsbook surveillance video indicated that the person who placed the bets was communicating with Bohannon at the time, multiple sources with direct information about the investigation told ESPN.”

The story began when the Ohio Casino Control Commission directed sportsbooks that it has licensed to stop taking any bets on Alabama. The incident stepped from an April 28, 2023 game with No. 1-ranked LSU. Alabama lost 8-6.

LSU was a roughly 2/1 betting favorite in the game.

“The Ohio Casino Control Commission has received reports from one of its certified independent integrity monitors regarding wagers made on University of Alabama Baseball,” the OCCC said in a statement. “In response to these reports, [we are] issuing an emergency order to licensees, prohibiting the acceptance of any wagers on University of Alabama Baseball effective immediately. Any wagers placed on an incomplete sporting event that has had wagering suspended through the issuance of an emergency order must be voided.”

According to Nola.com, a “large” moneyline bet was placed on the LSU-Alabama in Ohio. According to reports, allegedly suspicious wagering activity was also seen in Indiana.

It’s unknown how big the bet was and whether it was on Alabama or LSU.

The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement also stepped in to prohibit bets on Alabama. Here was the state from the Garden State gambling regulator:

“On May 3, 2023, the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement instructed sportsbooks to suspend wagering on all contests involving the University of Alabama baseball team and associated players, including future wagers. The action was taken out of an abundance of caution after the Ohio Casino Control Commission halted bets on the University of Alabama baseball team after suspicious activity was identified in the Alabama vs. Louisiana State University game. Currently, New Jersey gaming operators and their independent fraud monitors have not detected any suspicious wagering in New Jersey.”