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The Fordham basketball team has struggled in 2024-25, and things just went from bad to worse. Head coach Keith Urgo was suspended by the school on Thursday.
The reasoning behind that suspension is unclear. Ties to a high school recruiting scandal have been referenced by those searching for answers.
Urgo was named A-10 Coach of the Year after leading the Rams to a 25-win season two short years ago. Unfortunately, he’s been unable to rediscover that success of late.
Last season, Fordham went 13-20. This year, another losing campaign appears imminent. The Rams are 8-10 and winless in conference play. They fell in triple overtime to UMass on Wednesday.
Less than 24 hours later, the program announced Urgo’s suspension.
As part of an ongoing investigation with the NCAA, Fordham is self-imposing a four-game suspension for men’s basketball coach Keith Urgo beginning January 22, consistent with the updated NCAA guidelines related to recruiting violations. Associate head coach Tray Woodall, in his fourth year with the Rams, will serve as interim coach.
Fordham has and will continue lending full cooperation to the NCAA during their investigation, including following the NCAA’s bylaws to maintain confidentiality. Therefore, we’re unable to share any more details on the matter at this time.
An ongoing investigation is reportedly underway, though the cause is unknown. Some believe it could have something to do with the recruitment of Fordham basketball freshman Jaden Smith.
Smith attended Kenwood Academy in Chicago. Last week, a report surfaced referencing violations involving the “fraudulent” enrollment of players.
Former Kenwood basketball coach Mike Irvin and members of his coaching staff conspired to fraudulently enroll at least 17 students to play at the school, according to the CPS Office of the Inspector General’s annual report released Wednesday.
Investigators found that at least half of the school’s varsity players over three years were fraudulently enrolled. Two of the basketball players are still enrolled at Kenwood after they provided CPS with proper residency documentation in late 2024.
Irvin, who resigned in November, has been placed on the district’s do-not-hire list.
The report accused head coach Mike Irvin of running an enrollment scheme to falsify the addresses of Kenwood basketball players. Many of those players are said to have played on Irvin’s club basketball team. Irvin refuted the claims.
Jaden Smith was ruled ineligible to compete in the playoffs during his senior year amid the scandal. He joined the Fordham basketball team this year.
Across 11 games, he’s averaged 2.9 points on 50% shooting. The center has also tallied six blocks and 28 boards.
The reasoning behind Keith Urgo’s suspension remains unclear. The timing is certainly interesting, though. At this point, the link to the high school recruiting drama is purely speculation. The school refused to comment further on Thursday, but more information is likely to emerge in the coming days.
An update has been given on Fordham basketball suspension.
According to Jeff Goodman of The Field of 68, the suspension revolves around “spending more than the allowable limit on recruits’ entertainment expenses.”
The reason for Fordham coach Keith Urgo’s 4-game suspension was because they spent more than the allowable limit on recruits entertainment expenses, sources say. No money was given to recruits.
In a day and age where players are making $2 million for NIL, this is absolutely comical.
-Jeff Goodman on X
The violations appear rather minor, especially considering the initial insinuations. Keith Urgo will now serve out his four-game suspension with a return date set for February.
