BATON ROUGE – Southern University Athletic Director Greg LaFleur was fired Wednesday following his arrest Sunday night on a misdemeanor prostitution count in downtown Houston.Southern Chancellor Kofi Lomotey announced LaFleur’s dismissal in a university news release Wednesday night, a little more than 72 hours after the 52-year-old LaFleur was arrested during a prostitution sting.
Lomotey said in the e-mail that he will recommend to the university’s Board of Supervisors that Southern women’s basketball coach Sandy Pugh become interim athletic director.
“This decision was reached after consultation with campus and system administrators,” Lomotey said in the statement.
“We think the decision is in the best interest of Southern University.”
Lomotey said his decision to fire LaFleur, who was hired in 2005, is one that had to be made – and made quickly – for the overall stability of Southern’s athletic program.
“Given the circumstances, I think it would be difficult for the university to move forward with Mr. LaFleur as the head of the athletic program,” the chancellor said.
“I think that bringing Sandy Pugh into the job provides us with someone who has done a great job of recruiting student athletes, who is a rising star in her profession and who commands respect immediately,” Lomotey added.
He said the school will launch a nationwide search for a new athletic director.
“The person hired will come into the job
with the full support of the campus, administration and Jaguar Nation,” he said.
“That person will be expected to help our coaches attract and graduate the best student-athletes available.”
Lomotey praised LaFleur for his guidance of the athletic department during difficult economic times and coaching changes, which included the dismissal of men’s basketball coach Rob Spivery late last week.
“I appreciate his effort and the hard work he put in during some difficult situations,” Lomotey said. “I speak for the rest of my staff in wishing him well.”
He said Pugh, who’s been the Lady Jaguars’ coach for the past 11 seasons, will be invaluable in guiding the athletic department in the coming weeks – especially next week during meetings with NCAA representatives.
Attempts to reach LaFleur by The Associated Press and The Advocate were unsuccessful.