Morehead State AD: Review of Woods 'nearing completion'

MOREHEAD, Ky. (AP) Morehead State athletic director Brian Hutchinson said the university's review of Sean Woods is ''nearing completion'' as the suspended men's basketball coach faces a misdemeanor battery charge in Indiana.

Woods has been suspended since Nov. 22 and has a hearing set for Feb. 9 in Evansville. Two players say in a court affidavit that they had altercations with Woods.

Sophomore Malik Maitland says the coach backhanded him in the chest and junior Soufiyane Diakite says Woods shoved him twice when the Eagles played last month at the University of Evansville.

Maitland stated in the document that Woods caused pain when he struck him during halftime of the game. Diakite stated in the affidavit that Woods pushed him once during a timeout and in the locker room, and added that he saw the coach hit Maitland.

Woods, in his fifth season at Morehead State, has not returned messages seeking comment on the allegations.

Hutchinson said Wednesday in a statement he may have more to say about the situation after the review. The AD said since ''this is both a student matter and personnel issue, we intend to respect and protect the privacy of individuals and ask that rightful and appropriate due process be allowed for all involved.''

Assistant coach Preston Spradlin has served as interim head coach of the Eagles (2-7), who have lost seven straight including five in a row since Woods' suspension.

Morehead State suspended Woods for one game in November 2012 for berating player Devon Atkinson on the bench and appearing to make contact with him during a loss at Kentucky, where he played collegiately in the 1990s. Woods apologized for his behavior in the exchange.

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