The first two casualties of the NCAA investigation into Southern Miss basketball for alleged violations committed during Tyndall’s tenure came in the form of Adam Howard and R.J. Rush. Howard served as a graduate assistant on Tyndall’s staff at Morehead State from 2009-10 before being promoted to a full-time assistant – a position he held on Tyndall’s staff at Morehead, Southern Miss and Tennessee before resigning for “personal reasons” Monday evening.
R.J. Rush was a graduate assistant at Southern Miss from 2012-14 before joining Tyndall at Tennessee under the title “Special Assistant to the Head Coach.” Tennessee announced Howard’s resignation on Twitter. Ben Frederickson first reported R.J. Rush’s resignation.
Though Tennessee claimed “personal reasons” for Howard’s resignation, multiple sources have confirmed that his resignation is connected with the NCAA’s investigation. Beau Braden, who joined Tyndall’s staff as video coordinator in May, has been promoted to assistant coach. Braden served as director of basketball operations and as a graduate manager on Tyndall’s staff at Morehead State from 2011-12 but was not with him at Southern Miss.
Howard and Rush, more than any other staff members, had the most ties to both Tyndall and Southern Miss. Tennessee assistant coach Al Pinkins was at Ole Miss during Tyndall’s time at Southern Miss. Assistant coach Chris Shumate coached with Tyndall for just one season at Southern Miss prior to joining his staff at Tennessee.
We’ll have more on this story as it develops…
