The Western Michigan athletic department announced yesterday that hockey coach Bill Wilkinson will be relieved of his responsibilities with the team, effective immediately.
Wilkinson, in his 17th season with the Broncos, was reassigned to an internal position within the department while former assistant coach Jim Culhane was named interim head coach. Culhane is a lead candidate for the job, according to officials.
"The University felt it was time for a change in leadership of the hockey program," Western Athletic Director Kathy Beauregard said in a written statement.
Beauregard said the school remains committed to fulfilling Wilkinson's contract, which runs through June of next year.
On Sept. 21, 1998, Wilkinson was suspended from his position, pending an internal investigation of the program, after two of his players were arrested for possessing alcohol as minors and not cooperating with police. The incident stemmed from a team party held at a house owned by Wilkinson.
The investigation found Wilkinson guilty of two minor NCAA violations. Although he was reinstated for the 98-99 season, players served a team-wide one-game suspension for the incident - going on to compile a current CCHA record of 2-13-6.
02-04-99
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