Muller ’embarrassed’ by recent player arrests

Posted on October 31, 2016
Dan Muller
ISU head coach Dan Muller said he’s waiting for all the facts to be sorted out before determining what will happen with three players who were arrested last week. (Photo courtesy GoRedbirds.com)

By Eric Stock

NORMAL – Illinois State men’s basketball coach Dan Muller said he’s ‘disappointed and embarrassed’ by the recent arrests of three of his players over the last week.

Muller said while he can’t discuss the specific cases, he added not all reports are accurate. He told WJBC’s Scott Laughlin he tries to uphold a promise he makes to each player and their parents.

PODCAST: Listen to Scott’s interview with Muller on WJBC. 

“I would treat your son as if we were my own,” Muller said. “We will help him understand how to be a man and grow into a good man, a good father and a good husband, graduate from this university and we will hold them to a very high level of accountability.”

Deontae Hawkins was suspended indefinitely after his arrest on suspicion of drunk driving. Derrick Clayton Jr. and Milik Yarbrough face misdemeanor charges in connection with a stolen iPhone.

The fifth-year coach said he’s handling that matter internally.

“When you make a mistake – which obviously we had some guys make some big mistakes, you own up to it, you accept the consequences, you learn from it and then you move on from it,” Muller said.

The Redbirds host Quincy in an exhibition game Sunday.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].

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