The Glenn Cyprien File ...

[BirdofParadise]

Oklahoma State assistant Glenn Cyprien is the choice to lead the Cajuns' basketball program.

He will be introduced at a 3pm Wednesday Press Conference.

[NewsCopy]

Cyprien, a New Orleans native and 17-year Division I coaching veteran who helped lead Oklahoma State to the NCAA Final Four this past season, was named head men’s basketball coach at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette on May 5, 2004.

The school's 11th head coach of men's basketball, he is replacing former head coach Jessie Evans who became the head coach at the University of San Francisco April 22 after seven seasons as the head coach at Louisiana-Lafayette.

In his fourth season and final season at OSU, Cyprien helped lead the Cowboys to a 31-4 record in 2003-2004, a season which finished at the Final Four in San Antonio. During his stay under Sutton's leadership, the Cowboys made four straight NCAA Tournament appearances and posted four straight 20-win seasons.

Cyprien was instrumental in helping OSU lure John Lucas III from Baylor and Tony Allen from junior college to form the Cowboys' formidable backcourt that ignited a Final Four run.

Sutton's reputation for for delegating work among his assistants allowed Cyrpien to learn all facets of the game which has readied him for the position of head coach.

Prior to arriving at Oklahoma State, Cyprien spent five seasons helping turnaround the program at UNLV as an associate head coach where he was a member of Bill Bayno's original staff in 1995.

In 1996-97, UNLV's recruiting class was tabbed the nation's best by the Sporting News and Basketball Times, and the 1998-99 class was ranked second nationally by The Hoop Scoop. While at UNLV, Cyprien helped recruit Tyrone Nesby, Keon Clark and Shawn Marion, who went on to play in the NBA. The recruiting classes helped turn a 10-16 season in 1995-96 to a 22-10 campaign in 1996-97 and eventually NCAA appearances in 1997-98 and 1999-2000. The Rebels made four postseason appearances during his stay.

He was an assistant coach at Western Kentucky during the 1994-95 season, helping lead the Hiltoppers to a 27-4 record and a final ranking of No. 21 in the Associated Press Poll. His recruiting class ranked No. 10 in the nation and helped land WKU the Sun Belt Conference regular season and tournament titles along with a first-round win over Michigan in the NCAA Tournament.

Before joining Western Kentucky, he was the associate head coach at then-Sun Belt member Jacksonville University from 1991-94. He has also been an assistant coach at Lamar (1990-91) and Texas-San Antonio (1987-90).

Cyprien began his coaching career at UTSA in 1987 and helped guide the Roadrunners to their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance that season. When he joined the staff at Lamar, the Cardinals win percentage increased from .259 (7-20) to .556 (15-12) and the team grade point average jumped from 1.00 to 2.55.

Cyprien attended Southern University (1985-87), lettering for two seasons in basketball, before transferring to Texas-San Antonio (1987-90). He received his bachelor’s degree from UTSA and earned his master’s degree from LaCrosse University in May 2002.

He attended Jesuit High School (1981-85) in New Orleans and played guard and lettered four years in basketball. He lettered two years on the football team as a wide receiver.

His father, James, coached for 30 years and his mother, Janice, also was a coach.

Cyprien has coached Robert Pack (Dallas Mavericks), Tim Breaux (Vancouver Grizzlies), Dave Johnson (Italy Pro League), Randy Livingston (Houston Rockets), Chris Robinson (Vancouver Grizzlies), Isadore Thorton (Argentina Pro League) and Lyle Mouton (Chicago White Sox) during his career.

Cyprien and his wife Monique have two daughters; Asia and Karter.

RaginCajuns.com

[EVCajun12]

I see nothing wrong with this hire. He has coached some great kids, played high school in Louisiana, was an assistant in the Sunbelt, and is one hell of a recruiter judging by some of the players he coached. Also, has worked under a legend for the past few years. good hire if you ask me.

[bigearl]

No doubt, I just wish they would have interviewed a few more people before reaching a decision. I hope they didn't rush this choice. Also, with this hire, we seem to have the same delima as when we hired Jesse... he won't be here for long.

[vatican]

A great move by Nelson and Dr. A. Cyprien was the best of all available options - he is young, personable, and has been successful everywhere he has been. Working for a legend the past 4 years could not have hurt his apprenticeship. Unlike the other candidates, he is on his way up!

[CajunRebel]

Wow, that was quick!!!!

I don't know that much about the guy, but I am happy with the decision. I'm looking forward to a good year next year.

[Cajun Express]

Originally posted by bigearl
Also, with this hire, we seem to have the same delima as when we hired Jesse... he won't be here for long.

I can only hope he excels and gets a gig at a more visable university.. get my drift Big E.

[Russ1]

Wasn't this guy under some sort of NCAA investigation for paying players or something of that nature?

[B-ball Fan]

Wasn't this guy under some sort of NCAA investigation for paying players or something of that nature?

All accusations were found to be baseless. The NCAA found no facts which warranted further investigation.

This is an awesome hire! He will bring his 17 years of college coaching experience, his Louisiana ties and his substantial energy and conviction to our program. The list of players he has recruited and coached who have gone on to play in the NBA is impressive. The current players and recruits will love this guy.

[CajunCharlie]

I feel bad for Robert Lee. I did not know him personally, and was in his presence only a few times. During these times I was impressed with his demeanor and candor. Hopefully, he will be offered and opportunity to remain on the coaching staff, and will accept the offer. Cyprien seems like a good hire, but we shall have to wait and see. I have hopes!!

[CajunGuru]

Student alleges Rebel violations

A former UNLV basketball manager says a coach gave him hundreds of dollars to pay toward a player's car.

By Kevin Iole
Review-Journal

A 20-year-old UNLV sophomore has made allegations against the men's basketball program that would be serious violations of NCAA rules.

Mike Viellion, an international business major who once served as a student manager for the basketball team, said University of Nevada, Las Vegas associate head coach Glynn Cyprien gave him money to make car payments on behalf of former Rebel Tyrone Nesby. In addition, Viellion said Cyprien loaned Viellion's 1995 Ford Thunderbird without his permission in the summer to Rebel Kaspars Kambala and that Kambala subsequently was involved in an accident that totaled the car.

Viellion made his allegations as NCAA investigators were in Las Vegas to conduct an informal review of information that alleged recruiting violations.

He said that four times during the 1997-98 basketball season, Cyprien gave him money that Cyprien took out of his own pocket. Viellion said he was under instructions to take the money to a car-leasing agency, which he declined to name, and make payments for Nesby, who is now an NBA rookie playing for the Los Angeles Clippers. Viellion said he could not recall the exact amount, but said it was between $300 and $400.

Viellion also said he served as a go-between for UNLV coach Bill Bayno and Nesby in picking up loaner cars Bayno had arranged for Nesby when the player's car was out of commission.

Bayno would not comment on Viellion's allegations regarding the payments on Nesby's car, other than to deny it in a news release put out by the university's sports information department. However, Bayno said he was aware of the dispute regarding Kambala's accident and questioned Viellion's truthfulness.

"None of this is true," Bayno said of Viellion's allegation that Cyprien lent Viellion's car to Kambala. "Mike is lying. Cyp had no control of (Viellion's) car. Kas borrowed the car from Mike's friend."

A university is forbidden under NCAA rules from providing a benefit for a student-athlete that it would not provide for every other student.

Viellion said NCAA investigators questioned him about the Kambala incident, but he denied at that time anything had occurred. Later, however, after he said he had difficulty obtaining money from Kambala to purchase another car and to pay his increased insurance premiums, he contacted the NCAA and told them of the incidents regarding Nesby's car, which he said was a black Honda Accord. He said he isn't sure what year the car was, but said he thought it was a 1995 model.

"Coach Cyprien just totally took the money right out of his pocket," Viellion said. "I paid Tyrone Nesby's car payment on several occasions. I would take the money, drive to the place, get the receipt and give it back to Coach Cyp. I did that on several occasions."

Nesby had a game with the Clippers on Tuesday against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York and could not be reached for comment. Cyprien said he never gave Viellion money on Nesby's behalf.

"That's totally bogus," Cyprien said. "I'm not very intelligent, but why would I give him money to pay Tyrone's car note? That doesn't make any sense. It's totally out of line."

Viellion worked for the basketball team during the 1997-98 season and described himself as Cyprien's "right-hand man."

He said the two began to grow apart after Kambala wrecked his car on July 28. Viellion said he was at his home in New Orleans and had given his car to Cyprien to keep an eye on. However, Viellion alleged that Cyprien then gave the car to Kambala. Kambala wrecked the car at 12:30 p.m. on July 28 at Eastern and Washington avenues. According to the police report, Kambala was traveling 50 mph in a 35 mph zone, jumped the median and hit a pole.

Viellion said Cyprien called him in New Orleans to inform him of the accident.

"He told my dad, `We'll take care of everything. Don't worry about anything. It was an accident. I'll take responsibility for it. I shouldn't have given him the car,' " Viellion said.

Viellion said his insurance premiums went from $1,100 a year to more than $5,200. He said he had to quit working for the basketball program in September to get a job so he could make his insurance payments, which he said were now around $500 a month.

Bayno said Kambala, who could not be reached for comment, offered to pay Viellion $50 a month toward the car, but Viellion turned it down.

The coach accused Viellion of trying to destroy his program.

"This has been an issue for three months," Bayno said. "The truth will come out. He's trying to blow up the program and I don't know why."

Cyprien and Viellion attended Jesuit High School in New Orleans and Cyprien said he arranged for Viellion to be UNLV's basketball manager at the request of his former high school basketball coach. Cyprien said Viellion became upset when he learned he would not receive a scholarship for being the manager.

Cyprien denied Viellion's charge that he loaned Viellion's car to Kambala. Cyprien said Viellion had given the car to a former UNLV employee for safekeeping when Viellion returned to New Orleans. Cyprien said that person loaned it to Kambala. Cyprien wouldn't identify that person but said he was a friend of Viellion's.

However, Viellion said Cyprien took responsibility when he phoned regarding the accident.

"(He said) `Mike, this is Cyp. We have a problem,' " Viellion said. " `Today, Kas had to run an errand. He had a friend in town. I couldn't let him use my car, so I let him use yours and he wrecked it.' I said, `OK.' He said, `I don't know how bad it is.' So I'm thinking, broken headlight or something. Little did I know when I got back and looked at the car, there was no front end.

"He told my dad `We'll take care of it.' Bayno got on him and said, `Let's get together and take care of this.' Cyp basically just blew everybody off, started lying to us."

Viellion received a Dec. 15 memo from Jerry Koloskie, UNLV's associate athletics director, in which Koloskie wrote, "On July 28, 1998, Coach Cyprien lent Mike Viellion's car to Kaspar (sic) Kambala."

Koloskie said he was just trying to put together a list for Viellion's father, George, of what he knew and that the memo was not a finding of fact. Koloskie said his investigation has led him to believe that a friend of Viellion's lent the car to Kambala, but Koloskie would not name that individual.

"This is a nonuniversity matter and it's not my place to implicate somebody else," Koloskie said. "I'm very comfortable that Coach Cyprien did not intentionally violate NCAA rules in this matter."

[CajunCharlie]

What is the rest of the story, and why are you bringing this up? :confused: confused: