Dismissal follows incident in game vs. Brown

Men’s lacrosse coach Chris Bates is “no longer employed by Princeton University,” according to a news release posted on GoPrincetonTigers.com April 6. His dismissal comes four days after Bates shoved a Brown player with his elbow during Princeton’s loss to the Bears April 2.

Chris Bates, pictured at a practice in 2012.
Beverly Schaefer
Video from the Ivy League Network, published on InsideLacrosse.com, shows Bates making contact with John Yozzo-Scaperrotta, a senior midfielder, as Yozzo-Scaperrotta was leaving the field during the third quarter.

On Monday Bates was placed on administrative leave, and the University promised “a prompt and thorough review.” By Wednesday evening, the review was completed and Bates’ seven-year tenure abruptly ended. Since succeeding Hall-of-Fame coach Bill Tierney in 2010, Bates had won three Ivy League titles and compiled a 53-42 record. The Tigers are 2-6 and 0-3 in Ivy play this year.

Offensive coordinator Matt Madalon has taken over for Bates for the five remaining games. The University will begin a national search for a permanent head coach after the season, according to the news release.