Lack of Bachelor's Degree Causes USF to Take Back Its Rose
by Robert McKercher on 03/27/14
But really, that's just semantic quibbling. There is a fundamental, philosophical reason why college coaches should have academic degrees whether or not they are "educators." Yes, college athletics is big business, and some (perhaps many) players view an athletic scholarship as an internship for the pros, but the NCAA, schools, athletic directors, coaches, and players continue to stress the "student" part of student athlete.
So, the University of South Florida rescinded its offer to Steve Masiello to be the Bulls' next men's basketball coach because of resume inaccuracies. It turns out he never received the degree from University of Kentuck he claimed to have earned. Consequently, Masiello's current employer, Manhattan College, has placed him on administrative leave while "reviewing his degree status." In most professional settings, lying on a resume would be sufficient rationale for USF's and Manhattan's actions, and it would likely be the end of the story. But because this is college athletics, naturally, there's controversy. You see, both USF and Manhattan have policies requiring their athletic coaches to have four-year degrees, and much of the commentary on this story by pundits and in internet forums has asserted that a bachelor's degree is irrelevant as a qualification for coaching basketball.
