Thursday, September 15, 2005

ACLU Questions Use Of Religion By New Mexico Coach

The Albuquerque, New Mexico Tribune reported yesterday that the New Mexico chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union is again raising concerns that University of New Mexico men's basketball coach Ritchie McKay is inappropriately mixing religion with his recruiting and coaching. This round of complaints was triggered by newspaper accounts of McKay's recruitment of Kansas transfer J.R. Giddens.

The ACLU went public with its concerns after being unhappy with the response it received to an Aug. 4 letter it wrote to McKay and Athletics Director Rudy Davalos. McKay says he never received the ACLU letter, but denies any improprieties. However, McKay says that the pastor of his church will continue to attend practices, because "he has a great relationship with many of our players."