Retired NBA star Gary Payton has stepped down as Lincoln University's head men's basketball coach after an unusual and sometimes controversial tenure at the little-known Cal State Oakland school.
Lincoln University has not disclosed the circumstances surrounding Peyton's departure, but earlier this month they announced that they had hired former California high school basketball coach William Middlebrooks as their new head coach.
The coaching change comes about three months after Payton made highly critical remarks about Lincoln and its athletic program in an interview with USA TODAY Sports. Payton's criticism echoes much of what a number of former and current football players have told USA TODAY Sports about the school's struggling football program, including one former player who called the school a “college… Bishop Sycamore.”
Payton, who has served as an unpaid volunteer the past two seasons, did not respond to requests for comment left with his agent and a former top assistant coach at Lincoln. Middlebrooks referred questions to the school. University President Mikhail Brodsky also deferred questions about Payton primarily to athletics director Desmond Gumbs, who did not immediately respond to an email seeking further information.
But Brodsky said Gumbs told him Lincoln's new coach would have to rebuild the men's basketball program. He added that Payton's insistence on sending 19 players to away games was too costly for Lincoln.
“I have a lot of respect for him, but that doesn't mean he can work here,” Brodsky said.
Payton's departure comes after three seasons at Lincoln, which is not affiliated with the NCAA or any other National Collegiate Athletic Association. He was hired when the school decided to start its athletic program from scratch in 2021.
Payton, a nine-time NBA All-Star and inductee into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013, told USA TODAY Sports in an interview in early January that he was coming to Lincoln University for the chance to work with players from his hometown. He said he did. of Auckland.
“Basically, I'm here for these kids,” Payton, 55, told USA TODAY Sports. “That's it. Nothing else.”
But over time, Payton said he became very dissatisfied with the school and its leadership for several reasons, including Lincoln's decision to stop paying assistant coaches. He also said he had to cancel three trips due to a lack of travel funds and had to pay for the players' uniforms, shoes and meals on the road.
“I stuck around for too long,” he said. “We should have been better than this.”
Brodsky took issue with Payton's criticism of the school.
“He's been spending money like crazy,” Lincoln University's president said in early January, noting that the basketball team's traveling party included 12 players and seven staff members.
Peyton had not received a salary from the school for at least 18 months. Mr. Lincoln's most recent tax records show that Mr. Lincoln earned $112,500 during the 2021 calendar year, and Mr. Brodsky said in an email that Mr. Peyton “didn't have to pay for college due to (a) tax deficiency.” was paid an additional $90,000 in early 2022 before suspending payments.” funds. ”
At the time of his critical comments, Payton said he had no intention of resigning as coach before the season ends on March 2nd.
“I have good kids,” he said. “If I quit now, I think I would quit the players because they came here for me.”
Lincoln's grades are not listed on the school's athletic department website. However, Glenn Graham, Peyton's top assistant coach at Lincoln University, said the team was 5-3 in the 2021-22 season, which was shortened due to COVID-19, and in the 2022-23 season. said he had 19 wins and 12 losses.
During the 2023-24 season, Payton led the Oaklanders to a regular-season championship in the Southwest Intercollegiate Conference and also won the conference's postseason tournament. However, Brodsky said none of the team's players were enrolled in classes during the spring semester. He said the players have not given a reason for not registering for classes, have not requested a leave of absence, and have not been allowed to return to school.
Brodsky did not explain why his team members were allowed to play even though they were not enrolled in classes, which is prohibited by major college sports governing bodies such as the NCAA.
Graham said all players and staff left the school after the most recent season. He said he had not spoken to Payton about his position at Lincoln University, but added that there was “no way he would stay.”
Email Josh Peter at jpeter@usatoday.com. Email Tom Schad at tschad@usatoday.com.
