Sean Woods resigns as Morehead State men’s basketball coach

MOREHEAD, Ky. – Sean Woods has resigned as Morehead State’s coach after being charged with misdemeanor battery in Indiana for allegedly assaulting two of his players.

Athletic director Brian Hutchinson on Thursday announced Woods’ resignation after four-plus seasons guiding the Eagles. The coach had been suspended since Nov. 22 and Morehead State began investigated unspecified “complaints received” about him. Police in Evansville, Indiana, on Tuesday filed the battery charge against Woods, who faces a Feb. 9 hearing.

Morehead State was in Cheney on Tuesday, losing to Eastern Washington 88-86 in overtime. It was the fifth straight game Woods missed through suspension.

Hutchinson called the situation “tough” as he announced Woods’ departure from the program.

Hutchinson said assistant Preston Spradlin will continue as interim head coach of the Eagles (2-7), who have lost seven straight including five in a row since Woods’ suspension. The AD said a national search for Woods’ successor will begin after the Christmas holidays.

Two players stated in an affidavit that they had altercations with Woods.

Sophomore Malik Maitland says the coach backhanded him in the chest and junior Soufiyane Diakite says Woods shoved him twice when the Eagles played last month at the University of Evansville.

Maitland stated in the document that Woods caused pain when he struck him during halftime of the game. Diakite stated in the affidavit that Woods pushed him once during a timeout and in the locker room, and added that he saw the coach hit Maitland.

Woods’ firing comes just over four years after Morehead State suspended him one game for berating player Devon Atkinson on the bench and appearing to make contact with him during a loss at Kentucky, where he played collegiately.

Woods apologized for his behavior in the exchange.