Bernie Fine, Syracuse University basketball coach accused of sexual abuse

The home of Bernie Fine, a Syracuse University basketball coach involved in a sexual abuse investigation, has been searched by police.

Police were at the house of Syracuse University assistant coach Bernie Fine last night but refused to say what they were looking for.

New York State Police spokesman Jack Keller said troopers were called to assist the U.S. attorney’s office in their investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney William Pericak said he “can’t confirm or deny” an investigation.

“We don’t comment on whether or not search warrants are being executed – we only comment at the time of public events.”

William Pericak said the goal was to avoid “a trial in the press”.

The local newspaper in Syracuse, The Post-Standard, reported that four state troopers were at the end of the driveway at Bernie Fine’s home in DeWitt on Friday afternoon.

At least six police cars were also parked on the street and officers were looking through a trash can.

Syracuse police spokesman Sgt Tom Connellan wouldn’t comment on any of the activity at the house.

Two former ball boys for the Syracuse basketball team, Bobby Davis and his stepbrother, Mike Lang, have said they were molested more than 25 years ago by Bernie Fine, who is on paid administrative leave from the university.

Bernie Fine has called the allegations “patently false”.

Bobby Davis, now 39, told ESPN earlier this month that Bernie Fine molested him from 1984, when he was around ten, until he was 27.

Bobby Davis, a ball boy for six years, said the alleged abuse occurred at Bernie Fine’s home, at Syracuse basketball facilities and on team road trips.

His stepbrother, Mike Lang, also told ESPN that Bernie Fine molested him from when was around nine years old. Mike Lang, now 45, also was a ball boy at the college.

Head coach at Syracuse, Jim Boeheim, has voiced his support for Bernie Fine and told Sportingnews.com that the assistant’s primary accuser is looking to capitalize on the recent Penn State sex abuse scandal surrounding assistant coach Jerry Sandusky.

Jim Boeheim told ESPN: “I know this kid… It is a bunch of a thousand lies that he has told.

“You don’t think it is a little funny that his (stepbrother) is coming forward?

“He supplied four names to the university that would corroborate his story. None of them did … there is only one side to this story. He is lying.”

Syracuse police are investigating allegations and the inquiry is ongoing.