Boosters Speak Their Piece, Decry Handling Of Fitz Case

Gonzaga University coaches, at the insistence of school administrators, had no comment about Monday’s announced resignation of long-time athletic director Dan Fitzgerald.

But Bulldogs boosters, not bound by any such gag order, had plenty to say about Fitzgerald’s departure and the events leading up to it.

Dale Sebo, a long-time GU donor and basketball season-ticket holder, said he was “ashamed” of the way the matter was handled.

Fitzgerald, the Bulldogs’ athletic director for 19 years, who served two stints as men’s basketball coach during that time, resigned following a six-month investigation into his use of athletic department funds without the knowledge of the school’s controller’s office.

None of the investigation findings have been made public, but Sebo said it was his understanding Fitzgerald was using the money to help supplement a meager athletic department budget that ranks among the lowest in the West Coast Conference.

“You take anyone who’s a competitor and say, ‘Hey, we’re going to tie your legs up,’ and he’s going to learn how to run on his hands,” said Sebo, also a close friend of Fitzgerald’s. “And that’s exactly what’s happened here.

“I really, really feel sorry for a man who has given an awful lot for a long time to this university. And I think it’s a terrible insult to him and all of those in the community that were active in supporting the athletic program to be written off this way.

“I’m so ashamed I can’t speak.”

Sebo did not say how much he contributes annually, but he is a member of the Bulldog Club’s President’s Circle of top donors.

Last year, he volunteered to serve on the university’s Planned Giving Committee, which solicits gifts of perpetuity from potential benefactors.

“But I told them when they did this to Dan Fitzgerald I would resign, so tomorrow I’ll probably tender my resignation to the committee,” he said. “I’ll continue to watch the basketball games because I like the kids, I like Dan Monson and I don’t think Fitz would want it any other way.

“But I won’t be requesting my friends and associates to donate to this university again.”

Monson, who replaced Fitzgerald as men’s basketball coach at the end of last season, said the school ordered him not to comment on the matter - even to the point of giving a reaction to the resignation of his former boss.

Rick Seefried, another avid booster, said he was “appalled” at the way university officials handled the matter and how they ordered staff members such as Monson not to comment.

“I’m embarrassed for Gonzaga University,” Seefried said. “Not only for the way they treated this whole deal, but for the press conference today. To me, they’re running away from a problem that isn’t going to go away.

“And to put a gag order on everybody at Gonzaga is just despicable. It’s almost like we’re in Russia or something.”

Fitzgerald, meanwhile, directed most of his comments to supporters who have called to wish him well and have written letters on his behalf to Sladich and university trustees.

“It’s been overwhelming,” he said of the support. “There’s even been people who I know don’t like me, who have written or called.

“You learn from every experience, and from this one I’ve learned what friendship really is. It’s been heartwarming.”

Fitzgerald, asked not to return to campus during the investigation that preceded his resignation, said he is looking forward to watching Bulldogs basketball in person.

, DataTimes