West Virginia and defensive coordinator Vic Koenning have agreed to separate from each other, the school announced Wednesday, a month after an investigation into Koenning’s allegations of player abuse began.
Security depth officer Kerry Martin Jr. detailed the mistreatment he received from Koenning in a social media post on June 23, alleging that Koenning called him “delayed” during a team training earlier that month and has made inappropriate comments on religion, politics and the recent protests against racism and police brutality.
Koenning, who was placed on administrative leave after the allegations, issued an apology the day after Martin’s release. He reiterated his apology again on Wednesday.
“I continue to apologize to anyone who perceives something I said or did as hurtful. That was never my intention,” Koenning said in a statement. “I want to thank all current and former players, coaches and colleagues, from all different ethnicities and backgrounds, whose support and encouragement have been invaluable to me and my family.
“I am relieved that the process is over, but the experience will change forever. Personally, I would love to retrain our boys, but I know that doing so would create additional scrutiny and persistent distractions for our program. Taking all of this into consideration, we have come to this mutual decision to separate. “
Mountaineering coach Neal Brown said in a statement that the decision to part ways with Koenning “puts us in the best position to advance positively.”
“Vic has meant a lot to this program in the last 18 months and to me personally for our time together both here and at Troy University,” said Brown. “I know Vic will find continued success as a coach. However, Vic and I concluded that current circumstances make continuing his role as Defensive Coordinator challenging. At the end of the day, everyone – Vic included – – He wants the best for our program. “
Koenning will be paid $ 591,451 as part of a separation agreement, 55% of the remaining value during the two years that he remained on his contract.
He joined the West Virginia staff in 2019 after working in the same position under Brown in Troy from 2015 to 2018. Koenning spent three seasons as Wyoming’s head coach and led Illinois in an interim head coach position in 2011.
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