Tennessee State brought the Mikki Allen era to a close by firing him as athletic director Friday, nearly four months after he was placed on leave.

Allen responded Saturday by sending The Tennesseean a statement regarding his dismissal.

“For months, TSU allowed allegations concerning my leadership to become part of the public narrative surrounding my administrative leave. Now that the University has chosen to terminate me without cause, it should not be permitted to rely upon vague references to those same allegations to create an inference that I was dismissed for misconduct,” Allen wrote. “That implication is unfair and misleading.

Allen was placed on leave July 23 following a letter of no-confidence written and signed by six Tennessee State head coaches. The signatures included men’s basketball coach Nolan Smith, women’s basketball coach Candice Dupree, football coach Reggie Barlow, track & field coach Chandra Cheeseborough, softball coach Genee McRath and volleyball coach Donika Sutton.

“If TSU intends to suggest that its investigation established grounds to terminate me for cause, then it should say so directly and disclose the factual basis for that assertion,” Allen wrote. “It did not terminate me for cause. It terminated me without cause. That distinction matters, and the public deserves an accurate account of the circumstances surrounding my departure.”

Allen closed his statement by vowing to defend his professional reputation and wished Tennessee State student-athletes the best in the future.

Tennessee State president Dwayne Tucker did not respond to The Tennesseean’s request for comment following Allen’s statement.

Jennifer Bell will continue to serve as Tennessee State’s interim athletic director, the university said.