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FIU fires Marlin Chinn after investigating allegations by player

Women's College Basketball, Florida International Golden Panthers

FIU has fired women's basketball coach Marlin Chinn, the school announced Friday.

The school said in a statement that Chinn was terminated for cause, effective immediately, after he admitted to knowingly violating NCAA bylaws regarding impermissible benefits provided to a student-athlete.

Chinn had been suspended earlier this month after one of his players told The Miami Herald that he pursued her sexually and gave her a $600 loan.

The player, Destini Feagin, told the newspaper that she was suspended for four games because she resisted Chinn's advances. Feagin told the newspaper that she filed a complaint with the NCAA and that she was aware that accepting the $600 loan from Chinn could be a violation that jeopardizes her remaining eligibility.

"The day after I received the money, he called me," Feagin told the newspaper. "I said, 'Coach, how could I ever repay you?' I was thankful, showing gratitude, humbleness. I really appreciated that. He said, 'You will pay me back. In other ways.' He said that six times. It's vivid in my head."

Feagin also told the newspaper that Chinn would comment on her physical appearance and that he "would go into detail what his sexual thoughts were."

In its statement, the university said its Title IX investigation into those allegations against Chinn would continue.

Chinn, 45, was in his first season at FIU after spending the previous six years as an assistant at Maryland.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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