WEST HARTFORD, Conn. — The University of Hartford men's basketball coach, John Gallagher, has announced his resignation from the program, amid the university's ongoing transition from Division I to Division III athletics.
Gallagher sent a letter to University of Hartford President Gregory Woodward announcing he would be leaving his position as head coach, just a day before the Hawks were set to open their 2022-23 season. It would be the school's first season as an NCAA Independent school.
The university confirmed Gallagher's resignation.
According to the Hartford Courant, Gallagher wrote in his resignation letter that budget cuts from the school's decision to transition to Division III athletics and safety concerns were the reasons for his decision.
In his letter, Gallagher reportedly wrote that the last straw was the school's decision not to send an athletic training with the team during a closed scrimmage at Dartmouth College last week. He said a player sustained a knee injury and, according to Gallagher, did not receive sufficient care.
Gallagher also wrote that the school allegedly denied a credit card application used by the director of basketball operations to buy meals for the team during road games, the Courant reported.
After the news of his resignation became public, Gallagher spoke with FOX61 News to explain that he had been thinking about resigning for months. He confirmed that the incident at Dartmouth, where a student-athlete was injured, was the last straw.
"I just felt that player safety would be addressed if I left," he said. "If I stayed there, things would have gotten worse."
Gallagher said his 12-year tenure at UHart began to "unravel" piece by piece, and while he could "write a book" about it all, he will look back at the positives.
"The relationships I've built over the last 12 years in this community - the people in this community ... this is home," he said. "Wherever I go next, I will always look at this place as home. I love everyone out there and thank you for the last 13 years. This place means the world to me."
Full Interview
The University of Hartford released a statement following Gallagher's letter of resignation, saying:
"First and foremost, the safety of our students is our top priority. The University confirmed Dartmouth College would have an athletic trainer on site for our recent scrimmage, who could assist both UHart and Dartmouth student-athletes. This is an institution with highly qualified medical staff and facilities. Additionally, other members of our staff have always had a University-sponsored credit card for planned meals and expenses.
Mr. Gallagher’s resignation letter is full of inaccuracies. We are confident that these baseless claims and attacks will be disproved through the legal process. We wish Mr. Gallagher well and look forward to announcing interim leadership for our men’s basketball program."
The university has not named a replacement. According to the Courant, an interim coach is expected to be named before the Hawks' game against Sacred Heart on Tuesday.
Back in March 2021, the University of Hartford men's basketball program won their first ever America East Conference Championship, earning them their first bid to the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament. Shortly after the team's appearance in the tournament, the university made its intentions known about transitioning from Division I to Division III athletics.
The university cited budget cuts and financial issues as its reasons for transitioning to Division III and will continue the transition through the 2024-25 academic year.
Gallagher had served as the Hartford Hawks men's basketball coach since 2010, with an overall record of 169-207, making him the winningest coach in Hartford Hawks men's basketball history.
The University of Hartford will join the Commonwealth Coast Conference beginning in the 2023-24 academic year. The university expects to begin active membership in Division III in the fall 2025 semester.
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