VUL's Newman keeps drawing complaints and controversy

A shot manager whose enactment astatine a North Carolina schoolhouse 15 years agone spurred a authorities probe into alleged deceptive practices is present facing akin allegations of utilizing mendacious promises to lure athletes and coaches to a historically Black backstage assemblage successful Virginia.

Tim Newman has worked since 2021 arsenic the caput shot manager and diversion manager astatine Virginia University of Lynchburg, which is present the suspect on with Newman successful a suit by a erstwhile manager who alleges breach of declaration and fraud, among different complaints.

Some of the suit allegations are denied by the university's lawyer successful a tribunal filing. However, akin complaints of fraudulent oregon deceptive practices were voiced among 25 erstwhile players, coaches and schoolhouse staffers interviewed by ESPN. They described an diversion programme that, they say:

• Attracted coaches with wage promises that the schoolhouse failed to grant aft respective had uprooted themselves to Lynchburg.

• Failed to present connected promised diversion scholarships and paid housing.

• Made players wage for their ain basal trainer-related services and supplies, including crystal for crystal baths. Some players accidental they resorted to taping each other's ankles.

• Pressured 1 subordinate to suit up contempt suffering a concussion and dismissed the seriousness of different players' injuries.

• Promised lodging conditions that fell acold abbreviated of standards athletes were led to expect. Multiple players and coaches cited cases of mold and insects successful rooms, and video from 1 country showed a caved-in ceiling successful a bathroom.

Newman declined to remark connected the allegations. However, successful an email, Newman touted the playing and coaching opportunities his schoolhouse makes available, its beardown shot schedule, assemblage engagement and "nine students with a 4.0 GPA oregon better."

Newman said the complaints astir him travel from players and coaches who "don't get their way."

"God is doing immoderate astonishing things here," Newman wrote to ESPN. "The devil does not similar the fantastic things going connected present astatine VUL." Multiple sources, including immoderate supporters, described Newman arsenic a charismatic antheral who professes a beardown Christian faith.

His emailed remarks lucifer his effect successful 2011, erstwhile ESPN reports outlined allegations by coaches and players of deceptive recruiting tactics by Newman erstwhile helium was diversion director, caput shot manager and headmaster of North Carolina Tech Preparatory Christian Academy.

Those interviewed astir Newman's clip successful Lynchburg said helium repeatedly made and past broke promises -- astir schoolhouse conditions, compensation and different matters -- to players and coaches, galore of whom were struggling to salvage careers and support fading NCAA dreams alive.

"Tim Newman is simply a bully salesman," erstwhile adjunct shot manager Richard Bonds told ESPN. "He tin merchantability you connected anything. Now volition helium travel done with it? That's a antithetic story."

Former women's hoops manager Darius Jennings said Newman volition "sell a imagination oregon mendacious narrative" to pull struggling athletes from crossed the country, "and each you're truly doing is taking their money" with tuition and different charges.

One erstwhile player, Brison Huey, said of the university: "It was ace discouraging. I don't privation that spot connected nobody."

Kathy Franklin, president of the 139-year-old institution, besides declined to comment. Tripp Isenhour, an lawyer for the school, said an in-progress suit by erstwhile women's hoops manager Marquis Lewis precludes Newman and Franklin from speaking. Isenhour besides declined to comment.

Lewis is seeking $25,000 for alleged breach of declaration and fraud, citing a nonaccomplishment by Newman and VUL to grant oral wage promises and failing to reimburse his coaching-related expenses. His suit asserts that Newman promised arrangements to lucifer the $30,000 wage of the occupation helium had astatine the time, but erstwhile Lewis had discontinue and relocated, Newman presented him with a overmuch lower, take-it-or-leave-it declaration for $7,000.

The lawsuit was heard successful Lynchburg General District Court connected Aug. 22, but a justice has yet to rule.

In September, Isenhour laid retired an 18-point effect to Lewis' suit that doesn't specifically contradict that Newman broke immoderate promises. Rather, Isenhour argues that, nether Virginia law, promises indispensable beryllium spelled retired successful penning to beryllium enforceable.

"Settled Virginia instrumentality connected constituent is wide -- contracts are enforced arsenic written," Isenhour wrote successful his response. "The p...