Update: 3:17 p.m.
As reported by numerous sources including the Journal Sentinel’s Jeff Potrykus:
#Badgers officials: Erik Helland, director of strength and conditioning at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, resigned his position Thursday afternoon. Helland had been the strength and conditioning coach for the Wisconsin men’s basketball program since 2013.
— Jeff Potrykus (@jaypo1961) February 6, 2020
Reports (cited below) say that a racial epithet by Helland was possibly directed toward Kobe King, who will be departing the program. A University statement cited by WBAY-TV says that is not the case.
Read below.
Wisconsin Badgers Strength and Conditioning Coach Erik Helland has resigned. pic.twitter.com/oCsUEVJ0ns
— Matt Hietpas (@MattyHip) February 6, 2020
Original story
Did a University of Wisconsin basketball staff member use a racial epithet potentially involving soon-to-be-departing Kobe King? UW is investigating that and has placed the team’s strength and conditioning coach on administrative leave, according to a report.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says that the team placed Erik Helland on that status after an allegation which the university explained in a statement to the newspaper.
“UW athletics administration was made aware of an allegation Sunday afternoon and has already taken measures to address it,” UW senior associated athletic director Justin Doherty said, reading from the statement which the Journal Sentinel cited. “Anytime we are made aware of an allegation of any kind, it is handled with the utmost seriousness.”