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Ball State Athletic Director Tom Collins (right) speaks to the media.

“Coach Thompson has expressed concerns about the process of the recent investigation of alleged NCAA violations and its conclusions,” Collins said in his opening statement. “We’ve asked Myra C. Selby of Ice Miller LLC to conduct an external review of the process. In doing so, we seek to ensure the integrity of our athletics programs.”

Collins said he expected the results of the external investigation to be complete in the next two weeks.

Thompson’s resignation capped a disappointing period in which the Cardinals’ finished with a record of 9-22 and the men’s basketball coaching staff violated the same NCAA rule twice.  

Racist notes were found in the men’s basketball offices on June 24 along with copies of an article on the program’s NCAA violations that appeared in the June 14 issue of the Daily News. Speculation that Thompson would leave had been hovering over the program for nearly two weeks. Thompson did not attend the press conference Friday.

Ball State University senior men's basketball player Peyton Stovall talks to the media about the resignation of coach Ronny Thompson. Photo by Derick Brattain

Junior forward Anthony Newell said Thompson hosted players at his home Thursday at to announce his decision to leave. Senior point guard Peyton Stovall was also at the press conference Friday, but said he was not present at the players meeting.

Even with the rumors that Thompson was heading out the door, Newell said he was not expecting to hear the news.

“I was surprised [when Ronny told us], and I’m still surprised,” Newell said. “I’m still in my first reaction. There’s a lot of disappointment.”

Instead of focusing on the resignation, Collins said Friday he was mostly concerned for the student athletes who suddenly don’t have a coach.

“I’m disappointed that Ronny Thompson has decided to resign, but my job now is to look after the student athletes,” Collins said. “Many of the student athletes are in summer school right now and we’re going to be working with them to make sure they finish well.”

Collins said he will be working with the players to help them throughout the personnel transition.

“We will be communicating with them as the process moves forward,” Collins said.