Wagner men’s basketball coach Donald Copeland is suspended and under investigation for alleged repeated mistreatment of players, the New York Post reported on Wednesday.
Athletic director Walt Hameline later confirmed the report to CBS Sports. While the allegations are still being investigated, multiple complaints were sent to school administrators to spark the probe.
“Wagner College takes student health and well-being seriously,” Hamelin said. “Upon learning of these allegations we moved quickly to review them. As we continue to do so, we will not comment further on this matter.”
Per the Post, Copeland is alleged to have verbally abused players and denied them water breaks during practice. One unidentified player allegedly hid a Gatorade bottle in the gym, and when it was found, Copeland reportedly took it out on the team.
“You’re all going to run, until the Gatorade is out of his belly,” Copeland reportedly said, per a player.
Two Seahawks players reportedly passed out from dehydration, resulting in one going to a local hospital, per the newspaper.
A player also wrote that Copeland uses a “bullying tactic in coaching style, saying cruel things about our upbringing or using harsh or foul/inappropriate language with the players that just tear us down mentally.”
Copeland, 41, is 46-45 through three seasons with the program. He guided Wagner to the NCAA Tournament in 2024, with the Seahawks defeating Howard in a First Four game before falling to top-seeded North Carolina.
Wagner, located in Staten Island, N.Y., saw all but two players leave the team since the conclusion of last season. Former assistant Kevin Lynch also left the program.
