George Washington names least experienced assistant as interim coach

Since George Washington fired Mike Lonergan less than two weeks before college basketball teams are allowed to start practice, the Colonials had little choice but to elevate a current staffer to interim coach rather than conduct a nation-wide search.

The only surprise is which of Lonergan’s former assistants received the promotion.

George Washington announced Tuesday that Maurice Joseph will serve as interim coach during the upcoming season. Joseph, 31, played for Lonergan at Vermont and has worked on his staff at George Washington the past five years, the last three as an assistant coach.

“MoJo emerged as the right individual for this interim position,” George Washington provost Forest Maltzman said in a statement. “He’s a strong teacher and he has the full support of the university. MoJo will be an excellent mentor for the young men he will lead with his understanding of the ideals of what a student-athlete should be, and he will prioritize a united locker room.”

What makes Joseph a bit of a curious choice is that he’s neither the most experienced assistant on Lonergan’s staff, nor the coach who represents the cleanest break from the previous regime.

Hajj Turner, George Washington’s associate head coach, has held that position the past five years and has worked under Lonergan since 2004. Carmen Maciariello, the Colonials’ other assistant coach, only had spent two years working alongside Lonergan.

CBSSports.com reported that Joseph was the choice because George Washington officials believed he had the best chance to keep the current staff intact and to avoid further player defections.

The decision had to be tricky for Maltzman and athletic director Patrick Nero given the circumstances of Lonergan’s firing. It came just two months after George Washington began investigating allegations that the sixth-year coach was verbally and emotionally abusive to his players.

Multiple former players and staff members told the Washington Post in July that Lonergan created a toxic environment within the program that contributed to George Washington’s 13 transfers during his tenure. Lonergan has since denied the accusations and former players Maurice Creek, Patricio Garino and Isaiah Armwood have spoken in defense of their ex-coach.

It will be Joseph’s responsibility to unite the pro- and anti-Lonergan factions in the locker room and to get his staff on the same page.

A former team captain at Vermont who has risen in stature quickly in the coaching profession, Joseph is renowned for his ability as a teacher and a recruiter. He played a role in helping George Washington reach the NCAA tournament in 2014 and capture the NIT title last spring.

“It is a distinct honor to have the opportunity to be a mentor to our team in this new role,” Joseph said in a statement. “I have the utmost confidence that I will validate the trust that Provost Maltzman and Patrick Nero have placed in me, and that we will deliver a product that makes our students, alumni and fans across the globe proud of GW Basketball and the university.”

– – – – – – –

Jeff Eisenberg is the editor of The Dagger on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at daggerblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!