Wagner men’s basketball head coach Donald Copeland has been suspended. The suspension amid disturbing allegations of verbal abuse and mistreatment of his players. Reports claim Copeland berated athletes with demeaning personal attacks. It’s claimed he denied players water breaks during grueling practices and even punished players until they collapsed. In one case. Copeland allegedly forced the team to run “until the Gatorade was out of his players’ bellies. All this because one of the players” hid a drink. Two players fainted from dehydration, with one hospitalized as a result.
These aren’t complaints about tough coaching — they’re accusations of cruelty. If proven true, this is a broken relationship that cannot be repaired. How do players move forward under a coach who risked their health and humiliated them? Forgiveness and trust can’t simply be demanded in a locker room.
And let’s be honest: firing Copeland would not be difficult. Wagner isn’t a basketball powerhouse. The Seahawks compete in the Northeast Conference. This is one of the weakest divisions in Division I, against programs such as LIU, Central Connecticut, and Stonehill. Copeland’s record hardly makes him irreplaceable. Last season, Wagner finished 14–16, two years ago 17–16, and in his debut season 15–13.
What happens next will define Wagner’s integrity. Do they stand by their student-athletes and send a message that abuse has no place in their program? Or do they cling to a coach in hopes he can turn a mediocre team into a contender?
The world will be watching. For Wagner, this isn’t about wins and losses anymore. It’s about values — and whether the college will do what’s right when the choice is painfully clear.