Eastern fires Burns

After a “holistic” and “global” review of the men’s basketball program, Michael Westfall fired head coach Mike Burns on Wednesday, 81 days after being named interim athletic director.

“There is a provision of his contract, a convenience clause, and we exercised that clause and terminated him for convenience, providing him the three months’ severance that is provided in that contract,” Westfall said. “Because it’s a personnel manner, I really can’t go into detail.”

Burns, who had record of 38-49 in three years as the head coach, had two years left on his contract at a salary of $95,437.

“I was stunned when I found out this morning about my termination,” Burns, 45, said. “I was told the convenience clause was being exercised in my contract to terminate me and that’s all I know at this time.

“No reason was given.”

Westfall also confirmed there are possible NCAA violations within the basketball program but said they had nothing to do with Burns’ dismissal.

“The separation is due to convenience,” he said. “However, separate from that we have submitted, today, a number of NCAA violations that I discovered when I came on board.

Upon replacing Darren Hamilton, who was fired in March after less than seven months on the job, Westfall said he hired an independent investigator to check into the possible violations. He received that report two weeks ago and forwarded it to the NCAA on Wednesday.

“I can’t comment on because it’s an active investigation,” he said. “I forwarded everything on to the NCAA and I’m in contact with them in regard to the next step. Once the NCAA investigation (is over) I would be more than willing to share.”

“Nothing was mentioned regarding that,” Burns said.

Westfall, who said there was a recommendation from his predecessor to fire Burns, understands the perception might be that the violations and termination are related.

“My charge was to look at the program in a holistic manner, take a global view of the program,” he said. “In doing so, it was only fair that due diligence be given in evaluating the program.

“At the time I was named interim (March 20), that would have been the ideal time to make a change if we were going to do so. However, since I was coming into it fresh … it would have been inappropriate for me to come in and make a rash decision.”

“Hindsight’s always 20-20,” Burns said. “There were other opportunities. The timing of this situation is obviously not the best for my family. I did forgo other opportunities.”

Assistant coaches Grant Leep and G.E. Coleman remain under contract.

“I’m going to oversee everything, make sure the guys get done what needs to get done and make sure we have camps,” Leep said. “I feel horrible for coach Burns, but he’s resilient and a pretty positive person. He’ll land on his feet.

“I’d like to stay, but ultimately it’s up to the new guy.”

Westfall said the search for a replacement was already underway.

“While the timing is not the best given the coaching profession, my way of thinking is it’s always the right time to do the right thing for Eastern,” he said. “With the July recruiting period on the horizon it’s going to be imperative we get someone signed as a coach as quickly as possible.”

Burns was an assistant for three seasons under Ray Giacoletti before going to Washington State to work under Dick Bennett in 2003-04. That year the Eagles made their only appearance in the NCAA tournament. Giacoletti accepted a job at Utah after that and Burns returned to EWU as the head coach.

Giacoletti, who resigned at Utah this past season and has been hired as an assistant at Gonzaga, declined to comment about Burns’ firing or his interest in the position.

Westfall said associate athletic director Mike Allen was calling the seven players who have signed letters of intent for next season, apprising them of the situation.

“All those players will be offered a letter of release if they so choose,” Westfall said. “That is not what we want … but that will be their choice. I understand the recruiting process. A lot of times it is the coach, not the institution that sells the player on signing with that institution. I want to give them every opportunity to do what they feel is best. Our hope is they will still come.”

He said the returning players “took it as well as could be expected.”

Freshman Michael Taylor, who announced he was leaving the program after the season, said he would be open to returning if he has not picked a new school by the time a new coach is hired. Other players could not be reached for comment.