ESPN reports new detail in Alabama baseball betting investigation that led to Brad Bohannon being fired

A new detail has emerged in the Alabama baseball betting investigation that led to the firing of coach Brad Bohannon midway through his sixth season with the program.

According to reporting from ESPN’s David Pardum, the person who placed two bets that were later flagged was “communicating with Bohannon at the time” the bets were placed.

Bohannon’s involvement was enough to lead the program to fire him, though a statement announcing the termination didn’t link it to the betting investigation directly but instead cited violations of the standards, duties and responsibilities of university employees.

The situation began to unfold with a Friday game between Alabama and LSU.

The Ohio Casino Control Commission first reported “suspicious wagering activity” at the BetMGM sportsbook at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati, Ohio, after it was flagged by an independent integrity firm and multiple states began to halt bets on Alabama baseball, according to ESPN.

According to Ronnie Johns, the chairman of the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, via a report from NOLA.com, two bets were under scrutiny, including one large bet.

“There were a couple of bets made in Cincinnati, Ohio,” Johns said. “One was on a parlay which involved the LSU-Alabama game, and then there was another straight-up (money line) bet, I was told it was a large bet that involved LSU-Alabama.”

Johns confirmed the bets were on the Tigers to win, leading him to believe the suspicious activity didn’t come from the LSU side.

“That in itself indicates that there’s definitely no suspicious activity on the part of LSU,” Johns said. “You don’t typically suspect the team that was picked to win the game. The problem would have been whether someone on the Alabama side was suspicious of activity.”

As ESPN noted in its reporting, Alabama’s scheduled starting pitcher for the game in question was ace Luke Holman, but he was a late scratch. He was replaced by Hagan Banks, who hadn’t started a game since March 16.

LSU won the game 8-6 after building a more considerable lead in the early going.

Before Brad Bohannon was fired, in his six seasons with the Crimson Tide he compiled a 166-124 overall record, while notching a 48-91 SEC mark. Alabama never had a season above .500 in SEC play under his watch.

Alabama is scheduled to host a three-game SEC series against Vanderbilt starting on Thursday night, with first pitch scheduled for 8 p.m. ET with a broadcast on ESPNU.

Jason Jackson will serve as the team’s interim coach.