MIAMI — FIU women's basketball coach Marlin Chinn has been suspended after one of his players told The Miami Herald that he pursued her sexually and gave her a $600 loan.
The university announced Tuesday that an internal investigation is ongoing, declining further comment. Chinn's agent Brian Stanchak declined comment when reached by The Associated Press, and a message left at the coach's office was not immediately returned.
The player, Destini Feagin, told the newspaper that she was suspended for four games because she resisted Chinn's advances. A university spokesman did not know if Feagin's suspension — which officially was termed as being over a violation of team rules — would be lifted as part of the investigation into Chinn's actions.
Chinn, 45, is in his first season at FIU, after spending the previous six years as an assistant at Maryland. FIU is 4-23 this season, and plays Thursday at UAB. The university has not said who will take over as interim coach.
Feagin told the newspaper that she filed a complaint with the NCAA, and that she's aware that accepting the $600 loan from Chinn could be a violation that jeopardizes her remaining eligibility.
"The day after I received the money, he called me," Feagin told the newspaper. "I said `Coach, how could I ever repay you?' I was thankful, showing gratitude, humbleness. I really appreciated that. He said, `You will pay me back. In other ways.' He said that six times. It's vivid in my head."
Feagin also told the newspaper that Chinn would comment on her physical appearance and that he "would go into detail what his sexual thoughts were."
An email from AP to an address believed to be Feagin's was not immediately answered.
