The findings of the investigagion into the resignation of Quin Snyder have been released. In a written press release Thursday afternoon, MU Chancellor Brady Deaton expressed concern about, in his words “the negative image that has been created for the university due to poor communications”.

According to former basketball coach Quin Snyder, athletic director, Mike Alden sent special assistant and broadcaster Gary Link to tell Snyder that he would be fired at the end of the season if he didn’t resign. He quit the next day. Alden has denied that version of the story, saying sent Link to visit Alden to gauge his mood and how he was dealing the six-game losing streak the team was going through.

No where in Deaton’s release did he specifically address the intent of Link’s visit to Snyder on February 9 nor did he address Snyder’s claim that Deaton, MU President Elson Floyd and Board of Curators member Don Walsworth all gave the thumbs up on his firing prior to his conversation with link. All three have denied that claim.

There was also no mention of who Deaton thought was telling the truth. Instead, he said, “Everyone involved with this issue had the best interests of the University at heart, and that includes Mike Alden, Gary Link and Quin Snyder.”

Beyond the press release, Deaton was not available for comment, but MU News Bureau Mary Jo Banken was. She said, that Deaton believes, “all three (Alden, Link and Snyder) basically told the truth about their perceptions about what actually occurred during their various conversations.”

No disciplinary actions will be taken by the University of Missouri against either Alden or Link. Deaton did indicate that he plans “to work with the Athletic Director Mike Alden to improve the athletic department’s internal and external communication processes, and I will be making recommendations to improve future communications.”

STATEMENT FROM MU CHANCELLOR BRADY DEATON

“I have completed my review in response to President Elson Floyd’s request and have given him a verbal report regarding my assessment of the decision process preceding Quin Snyder’s resignation. The President emphasized that this is a campus matter and that I should proceed as I deem appropriate.

Each party involved in this issue was well aware of the expectations concerning the performance of the basketball team, and that these expectations had been conveyed to former Head Basketball Coach Quin Snyder on more than one occasion. My assessment is that each of the three principal people involved sought to bring the process to a reasonable conclusion. Individual perceptions differ somewhat, but the facts remain consistent.

“As he explained in his news conference, Quin Snyder had the option to continue as head basketball coach until the end of the season or to resign. Tuesday night he gave his reasons for resigning. I have great respect for him and the reasons he gave for making this decision.

“I am, however, very concerned about the negative image that has been created for the University due to poor communications surrounding the process. As a result of my review, I plan to work with Athletic Director Mike Alden to improve the athletic department’s internal and external communications processes, and I will be making recommendations to improve future communications.

“This completes a difficult decision-making process for Mizzou. Everyone involved with this issue had the best interests of the University at heart, and that includes Mike Alden, Gary Link and Quin Snyder. It is time to move ahead, and Athletic Director Mike Alden and Interim Head Coach Melvin Watkins have my support. I plan to work closely with Mike and the Athletic Department staff to assess the basketball program and its future as we anticipate the search for a new basketball coach.”

STATEMENT FROM MU DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS MIKE ALDEN

“I appreciate Chancellor Deaton taking the time to evaluate this situation, and I am grateful for his support. I do share his concern for the negative image that has been cast over the University the past week, and as the Director of Athletics, I take responsibility for this, and for also taking the steps to prevent this from happening again. There was poor communication on a number of levels. I look forward to working with Dr. Deaton in the future, and will look at this situation, as I try to with everything, as a way to improve our athletic department.

“Gary Link is a wonderful asset to this University, and would only act in a way that he felt was in everyone’s best interests. I regret that he has become involved so publicly in this situation. He is a great ambassador for Mizzou, and we are fortunate to have him with us.

“It is time for us to move forward. A new era in Mizzou basketball is about to begin, and the most important thing to be done now is to go out and find the best coach possible for the University, and for our fans. We know that Mizzou is an attractive job, and I am fully focused on getting someone in here that will have great success. I look forward to working with Chancellor Deaton in finding our next coach as we move our program forward, in a search that will begin immediately.”

Listen below to Missourinet Sports Director, David Sprague’s interview with MU News Bureau Director, Mary Jo Banken.