UConn assistant coach in prostitution stang

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May 29, 2002
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HARTFORD, Conn. -- Clyde Vaughan, an assistant men's basketball coach at Connecticut, was among more than a dozen people arrested Wednesday in a prostitution sting run by Hartford police.

Clyde Vaughan
Vaughan

Vaughan, 42, was charged with patronizing a prostitute and interfering with police after authorities said he tried to pay an undercover officer $10 for oral sex. Police said he struggled with officers when he learned he was part of a sting. A Hartford police officer told ESPN.com Wednesday night that both charges are considered misdemeanors.

A source close to the situation told ESPN.com that Vaughan denies soliciting the undercover officer but the sting apparently was audiotaped, which could contradict Vaughan's version of the events.

A source said that Vaughan spent three hours in a Hartford jail. Then, because of the scuffle with the police, he drove himself to Manchester Memorial Hospital to get himself checked. The hospital would neither confirm nor deny that Vaughan was treated and released.

Vaughan, who will be entering his third year as an assistant for the defending national champions, was released on $2,500 bail.

Multiple sources said Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun, athletic director Jeff Hathaway and president Philip Austin will conduct an internal investigation into the matter before determining if Vaughan will be suspended pending the criminal case. A spokesperson for Connecticut's athletic department said the university wouldn't comment on the matter Wednesday but a statement could be forthcoming Thursday.

Sources said Calhoun and Virginia Tech coach Seth Greenberg, whom Vaughan worked for during a 10-year run at Long Beach State and South Florida, were stunned when they heard the news of the nature of Vaughan's arrest. Both coaches considered him to be a role model.

Vaughan, who recently re-married, coached UConn's big men the past two seasons and was instrumental in the development of Emeka Okafor, the No. 2 pick in the NBA draft and a current U.S. Olympian. Vaughan's latest project has been to work with Charlie Villanueva and Josh Boone, trying to turn the two rising sophomores into powerful forwards.

Vaughan played for and graduated from the University of Pittsburgh. Calls to his and his agent's cell phones Wednesday night weren't returned to ESPN.com.

Information from ESPN.com senior writer Andy Katz and The Associated Press was used in this report.