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Report: George Washington fires head coach Mike Lonergan

Allegations of verbal abuse surfaced earlier this summer.

By Russell Steinberg

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NCAA Basketball: NIT-Semifinals-San Diego State vs George Washington Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

George Washington has fired head coach Mike Lonergan, USA Today’s Dan Wolken reported Friday night.

The school has yet to officially announce the move.

With just weeks before the start of the 2016-17 season, the timing of Lonergan’s firing is curious. It is not immediately clear whether it is related to allegations of abuse that surfaced earlier in the summer.

The timing also makes it difficult for the university to choose a successor. Associate head coach Hajj Turner has spent 11 seasons by Lonergan’s side both at Vermont and George Washington. He would be the logical choice to take over in the interim.

The Colonials went 28-10 last season and won the NIT, beating Valparaiso 76-60 in the final. They open this season on Nov. 11 against Maryland-Eastern Shore.

In five seasons as head coach of George Washington, Lonergan went 97-70 and led the Colonials to the second round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament.

We will have more as the story develops.

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