Newly obtained documents reveal that, contrary to statements from Arizona State Officials
[last month, baseball coach Pat Murphy was forced to resign after being told he would otherwise be fired.
ASU officials said last month that Murphy resigned on his own initiative after 15 seasons as an acclaimed baseball coach. But documents obtained by
The Arizona Republic show the resignation came after Murphy received a hand-delivered letter stating that he had been terminated without cause. As that statement suggests, no specific reason was cited for the university's wish to force him out.
In the letter, Lisa Love, ASU vice president for athletics, told Murphy that he was being immediately relieved of his duties as coach and he must turn in his keys that afternoon.
The Nov. 20 letter was dated the same day that Love announced that the university had accepted Murphy's letter of resignation in order that he and the baseball program could move in a new direction.
"It's an amicable parting dictated by Pat," Love said in an interview that day.
The letter delivered to Murphy states that he would be "placed on administrative leave with pay" until Dec. 11. The letter also tells him to turn in all outstanding ASU property, including complimentary basketball tickets, and that his membership at the ASU golf course was being canceled. Cont...
