IU Indianapolis fired men’s basketball coach Paul Corsaro on May 13 after a 10-22 season, citing concerns about his treatment of players. While the Jaguars showed slight improvement under Corsaro, a former Division II coach, the team continued to struggle and finished near the bottom of the Horizon League.
The university said Corsaro’s behavior did not align with its values for student-athlete welfare. His dismissal followed an internal investigation after allegations of abusive conduct from several former players. Corsaro denied the claims and said he plans to clear his name and rebuild his reputation. Meanwhile, IU Indianapolis has begun a national search for its replacement.
Paul Corsaro Denies Misconduct Allegations Following Firing
Corsaro responded to his firing, calling the university’s decision “deeply disheartening.” In a written statement, Corsaro denied any mistreatment of players and said he plans to “vigorously defend the reputation I have worked tirelessly to build.”
He also said the university did not give him a chance to appeal the decision before announcing it publicly. “Despite my full cooperation with the University’s process … the University has consistently refused to provide any documentation that initiated and substantiated these claims,” Corsaro said.
IU Indy coach Paul Corsaro has issued a statement to @TheFieldOf68 in response to his firing earlier today. pic.twitter.com/JXBWqAkWxS
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) May 13, 2025
Corsaro thanked the players and staff for their work during the season and said he believed in the culture they built.
“We fostered a strong culture, the significance of which was regrettably overlooked by some,” he said. Corsaro added that he had stayed hopeful he would return as coach, noting the team’s success in the classroom and strong roster retention.
“My focus now is on clearing my name and rebuilding the reputation that has been unfairly damaged,” he said.
Corsaro’s exit ends a brief one-season stint at IU Indianapolis. While the team showed signs of progress on the court, off-court issues led to his dismissal. As the university moves forward with a national coaching search, Corsaro says he is focused on clearing his name and restoring the reputation he believes was unfairly damaged.
