A month after being placed on administrative leave, Howard head coach Ron Prince resigned Friday in the wake of verbal abuse and mistreatment allegations by members of the football team.
“Coach Ron Prince has resigned as Head Coach of Howard’s football program, effective immediately,” Howard Athletics Director Kery Davis said in a statement. “The University and Coach Prince have agreed to mutually part ways. A national search for a replacement will begin immediately.”
The university began its investigation after a letter surfaced crafted by an unidentified parent of one of the players outlining alleged threats to revoke scholarships that also included harassment and verbal abuse.
“The harassment, bullying, verbal, and mental abuse needs to STOP, the letter stated. “He has demoralized, ridiculed, and threatened the players on the team since his arrival.”
The letter also detailed Prince allegedly using language suggesting that his players were gay during an address to the team.
“… Asking if anyone was gay? And telling them it was ok he wouldn’t hold it against them “In fact, I want to have the first openly gay player(s) in the country, I know someone in here is gay,” the letter said.
Prince was placed on administrative leave in November.
The allegations came in the wake of several Howard football players, including starting quarterback Caylin Newton, entering the transfer portal.
Prince, who was hired before the season after the departure of Mike London, went 1-4 before the allegations.
