USMMA men's basketball coach Danny Nee put on leave
Midshipmen march down Brooks stadium during the viewing parade as the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy welcomes 237 "plebe candidates" of the Class of 2017 into the Regiment of Midshipmen during the acceptance day ceremony held on the campus in Kings Point on Sept. 7, 2013. Credit: Steve Pfost
USMMA men's basketball coach Danny Nee has been placed on administrative leave after an unspecified incident involving a student, Superintendent Rear Admiral James A. Helis said in a statement Sunday. Assistant coach David Muchnick has been running the team since Jan. 18.
"The academy's first priority is the well-being of its students," Helis said. "Immediately after learning of the incident, I placed the individual on administrative leave. A full investigation will be conducted to determine appropriate actions. As this is a personnel matter, we can provide no further information."
Nee, 68, was not available for comment, and athletic director Sue Petersen Lubow and Muchnick refused comment.
The parents of two players on the roster said they were not made aware of the matter concerning Nee. It was not disclosed if the incident involved a member of the team.
Nee, in his fourth season at Division III Kings Point, has a record of 46-45 at the school. The Mariners are 12-11 this season.
Nee, who was hired before the 2010-11 season, previously was a head coach at four Division I schools: Ohio, Nebraska, Robert Morris and Duquesne. He also was the director of player development at Rutgers and scouted for the NBA's Utah Jazz. He was an assistant at Towson before taking the job at USMMA.
Muchnick, in his fourth season as Nee's assistant, attended Oceanside High School and lives in Long Beach.
