Wagner College suspends basketball coach amid allegations of mistreatment

Wagner College suspended head men’s basketball coach Donald Copeland on Friday as the private university opened an investigation into allegations of mistreatment and verbal abuse involving players, according to multiple reports. The suspension, announced as authorities began examining complaints from current and former players, comes amid a period of upheaval for the program, which recently earned another NCAA Tournament bid under Copeland’s leadership.

The New York Post, citing multiple unnamed sources, reported that Copeland verbally berated players and denied them access to water breaks during intense practices. The Post said the school’s inquiry was prompted by several complaints and that Copeland’s behavior was described as a primary driver in why only two players returned to Wagner from last season.

According to a current player cited by the Post, water breaks were limited or withheld during workouts this summer. When players asked for hydration, Copeland reportedly replied, “If you’re thirsty, swallow your spit.” The report adds that the coach’s approach extended to other demonstrations of discipline during practice sessions.

In another incident described by the Post, Copeland allegedly discovered a hidden Gatorade bottle and ordered players to run, telling them, “You’re all going to run until the Gatorade is out of his belly.” Two players reportedly fainted due to dehydration, with one taken to a hospital after episodes during training. A former Wagner player said Copeland called him a series of insults, including “p*y, a b**, a punk, a vagina,” and would sometimes stand and point to his private parts when mistakes were made.

Other complaints described extreme film sessions that players referred to as a “funeral” because they expected to be mentally bashed and cursed during sessions. Wagner athletic director Walt Hameline and Copeland did not respond to requests for comment from the Post.

Copeland, 41, is a Jersey City native who played at St. Anthony High School under Basketball Hall of Fame coach Bob Hurley Sr. after which he played college basketball as a guard at Seton Hall. He pursued professional basketball overseas before returning to Wagner as a graduate assistant and later becoming head coach in 2022. In three seasons at Wagner, Copeland has a 46-45 overall record and a 21-27 mark in the Northeast Conference. He led Wagner to its second NCAA Tournament appearance in 2024, after winning the NEC title and securing a date in March Madness.

In 2024, Wagner defeated Howard in the First Four to advance to the Round of 64, where they were eliminated by North Carolina, the top seed. The new suspension and ongoing investigation come as the university evaluates whether the program’s on-court success was overshadowed by reported off-court conduct. The school has not released a timetable for the investigation or any potential disciplinary actions, and there is no final finding at this time.