Bernie Fine Hired by Israeli Hoops Squad
Longtime Syracuse University assistant coach Bernie Fine, who was fired in November amid allegations of sexual molestation, was hired as a consultant for an Israeli pro basketball team.
Maccabi Bazan Haifa of the Israeli Basketball Super League announced his hiring on Thursday. The team said it will include Fine on player personnel decisions, as well as its coaching search for next season. He will work from the United States.
Fine, the associate head coach for the Orangemen under Jim Boeheim, had the longest active tenure at one school among Division I assistant coaches before he was dismissed after being accused of molesting two former ball boys. Fine has denied any wrongdoing and no charges have been filed. A federal investigation is ongoing.
One of his accusers, Zach Tomaselli, said Wednesday that he indeed was molested as a child by Fine after saying earlier in the week that he had lied about being abused by the coach.
Maccabi Haifa, which is owned by Florida-based businessman Jeffrey Rosen, is scheduled to play two exhibition games against NBA teams in October. In 2010 the squad came to the U.S. to play the New Jersey Nets in an exhibition.
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