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UWM Athletic Director Braun defends Jeter firing

Posted at 8:05 PM, Mar 29, 2016
and last updated 2016-03-29 21:09:56-04

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men’s basketball players and Athletic Director Amanda Braun have met to talk about the firing of Rob Jeter.  While players feel they didn’t get many answers from that meeting, Braun answered Elise Menaker’s questions about how she’s handled the process. 

“Had I had the opportunity to deliver the information to them personally in person, I would have done that...and that was a regret I had...I wanted them to know how I was feeling,” Braun said of Jeter's firing. 

 At last week's meeting, she also explained why she made her decision.  Players asked questions, but as for the answers, Akeem Springs said he didn't feel like the meeting did anything. 

“I don't know what they expected,” Braun responded.  “So if it didn't meet their expectations, I've also offered individually and as a group to meet again and to talk about whatever it is they want to talk about, in particular the future.” 

Braun has even given players her cell phone number and said her door is always open to talk as UWM moves forward in their search for a new head coach. 

 “We've got a list of folks we'd like to meet with this week,” she said of the search process.  “We've had a lot of interest, a lot of enthusiasm for the position.” 

“It's time for a change,” Braun said.  “I made an assessment based on lot of information, what our potential is as a program, and that's what the decision was based on.  That staff worked very hard for 11 years and we appreciate the work that they put in and everything that they did do.  And over 11 years, you make a lot of friends and a lot of connections, and so I think that's where a lot of the emotion is coming from.  We're also hearing a lot of appreciation for the expectations that we do have for the program so that's coming through loudly and clearly to me as well.”