2 UC baseball staff members have been fired, according to university

CINCINNATI (WXIX) - FOX19 NOW has learned that two University of Cincinnati baseball staff members have been fired following an investigation.

A spokesperson with the University of Cincinnati Athletics Department released a statement to FOX19 NOW confirming that Assistant Baseball Coach Kyle Sprague and Director of Operations Andy Nagel were relieved of their duties on May 17:

Multiple sources have indicated to FOX19 NOW that the investigation may involve gambling.

Multiple sources have also told FOX19 NOW that Sprague and Nagel did not gamble however, a parent connected to a player on the team was gambling and had conversations with Sprague and Nagel.

The men were fired because they did not report the information about gambling to the program, to the directors, to the athletics department, or to the NCAA.

“The NCAA has long imposed this rule on coaches and administrators that if you know there is a violation you must come forward with it as soon as possible,” explained Sports betting expert and associate professor at the Spears School of Business at Oklahoma State University John Holden.

As to whether the parent was trying to impact the outcome of games, sources said multiple times that lineups were not changed and coaches did not make decisions to impact the outcome.

The Ohio Casino Control Commission said they are not investigating UC and are aware of the universities decision to fire Sprague and Nagel.

A UC source told FOX19 NOW that a decision on the future of Head Coach Scott Googins has not yet been made since the investigation is ongoing.

The Bearcats are currently playing in the American Athletic Conference tournament in Clearwater, Florida. Sprague and Nagel did not travel with the team.

The university’s website says Nagel joined the UC baseball staff on Aug. 31, 2015, as the Director of Baseball Operations.

Sprague joined the UC baseball staff in the summer of 2017, the website says.

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