Milwaukee broadcaster hints at major issues in athletic department

Longtime Milwaukee Panthers basketball broadcaster Bill Johnson recently retired from his position after 17 seasons and if a post on his Instagram is any indication, the university’s athletic department is an absolute mess.

 

To quote Groucho Marx “Hello, I must be going!” Before the decision is made for me, I am officially announcing my retirement as the voice of Milwaukee Panthers Men’s basketball. I would say it’s taking the last life boat off the Titanic, but that would be unfair to the crew of the Titanic. Never have so many competant, talented people been run off by such a talentless group of entitled beaurocrats. No matter how much the coaches, players, and support staff care, they can’t overcome incompetent administrators. UWM leads the world in incompetent administrators. I criticize awful athletic directors like Koonce, Costello, Geiger, and Braun. It’s not their fault. Hell, if they elected me President I’ld take the job. If I suck at it, it’s not my fault. I’m not qualified to be President. Should Amanda Braun turn down an AD job just because she’s horribly under qualified? Hell no. She’s a bad AD, and a deplorable human being, but those are the cards she’s been dealt. Those in charge of the UW System have failed to hire effective administrators. Failed. F F F F! It has been my pleasure to work with the wonderful players and coaches for 17 seasons. The players, coaches, parents and the fans have been like my family. I will miss Panther hoops the rest of my life. Best of luck to my friends that are still imprisoned at UWM Athletics. Fight on, brothers (and sisters.) Keep your heads low and make us proud. Finally, best of luck to LaVall Jordan, his staff, and the players. As so often happens in the NCAA, it’s not your fault. Win and get out quick, because long term is fatal at UWM Athletics. Panther Nation, it has been my pleasure.Cheers!

A photo posted by Bill Johnson (@bjohnson613) on Apr 14, 2016 at 6:14pm PDT

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To give the short version, Johnson bashed the university’s administration, namely AD Amanda Braun, and implied that everything under the sun was done incredibly unprofessionally in the athletic department.

And though Johnson’s comments could easily be seen as those of a disgruntled former employee, it’s hard to disagree with him. Coach Rob Jeter was fired after this season and the Panthers players were notified via group text to simply check their email. Former Iowa State assistant T.J. Otzelberger was also reportedly told he would be hired to succeed Jeter and to prepare for an introductory press conference, but then Lavall Jordan was hired.

Worst of all is that Braun wouldn’t let the Panthers participate in the CBI or CIT tournaments this year despite a donor willing to front all necessary costs.

Oh, and then there’s State Senator Lena C. Taylor calling for Braun’s dismissal on Twitter.

The fact is that something is not right in Milwaukee’s athletic department and though it’s easy to ignore Johnson’s words, they need to be taken seriously.

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*Featured Photo (above) credit to YouTube

Photo: Denzel Valentine posts awesome tribute to father
Photo: Denzel Valentine posts awesome tribute to father