Report: Former Golden State Warriors Assistant Darren Erman Fired For Secret Recordings
By Phil Watson
Jul 22, 2013; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Golden State head coach Darren Erman talks to a player during a timeout from the NBA Summer League Championship game against the Phoenix Suns at the Thomas and Mack Center. Golden State won the game 91-77 to remain undefeated during the Summer League games. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
According to a report, former Golden State Warriors assistant coach Darren Erman was fired earlier this month for secretly recording conversations between coaches and players.
ESPN.com’s Chris Broussard reported Tuesday that Erman would record coaches’ meetings, meetings between coaches and players and discussions among coaches—all without the knowledge of the participants.
The team cited “violation of company policy” as the reason for his termination earlier this month.
"“He was taping everything,” one source told Broussard. “Taping pregame speeches wouldn’t have been that bad, but he was taping guys just sitting around talking in the coaches’ office.”"
Erman was hired Tuesday as director of NBA scouting for the Boston Celtics, according to Yahoo Sports.
According to the report, other coaches began noticing changes in Erman’s behavior last month before discovering Erman had been recording them.
Sometimes Erman was in the room while the recording was taking place and other times he would simply leave his phone in the coaches’ room, according to the report.
The Warriors refused to comment further on the topic, releasing a statement on Tuesday:
"“As previously stated, Darren Erman was terminated due to a violation of company policy. We were unaware of the violation, and when made aware, we took immediate action. We will have no further comment at this time.”"
Erman’s dismissal came less than two weeks after assistant coach Brian Scalabrine was demoted to the team’s NBA Developmental League affiliate in Santa Cruz.
Broussard’s report detailed sources saying Scalabrine went five weeks without speaking to head coach Mark Jackson and displayed consistent disrespect toward Jackson and the other coaches.