William Paterson players forfeit game to protest Jose Rebimbas' firing

A Division III men's basketball team in New Jersey forfeited a game Tuesday night in protest of the recent firing of its longtime coach.

William Paterson players walked off the floor shortly before tipoff in their home matchup against Ramapo. A video on Instagram showed the players leaving their warm-up shirts in a pile on the court.

The school's athletic department later confirmed that the team forfeited the game.

The move comes just days after coach Jose Rebimbas, in his 21st season, announced that he had been fired.

"It is with great sadness and extreme frustration that after today I will not be coaching the basketball team at William Paterson University," Rebimbas wrote in a Facebook post. "WP has been my home and family for more than 20 years and yet the University has taken action to remove me from the service I love. People I have trusted and served with have defied logic and are [pursuing] my termination because of a misunderstanding over a facility rental fee for a camp that I run.

"These actions come despite the University hearing officer determining that termination was not warranted. The University has unfairly and illegally taken my right to coach and mentor the student-athletes I love. I am prepared to fight the actions of William Paterson University and restore my good name and that of the program."

A person familiar with the dispute told the AP that Rebimbas was fired after a loss Saturday night to Brooklyn College because he did not promptly pay the university fees pledged by high schools for the camp. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about the situation.

Rebimbas declined comment Wednesday, saying he would comment publicly at a later date. Assistant Brian Chapman is serving as the acting head coach.

Rebimbas was 384-168 at the school, guiding it to six conference titles and nine NCAA tournament berths. He was a member of Seton Hall's 1989 Final Four team.

Athletic director Sabrina Grant and athletic spokeswoman Heather Brocious did not immediately return calls seeking comment from The Associated Press. The school is closed because of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Ramapo coach Chuck McBreen said he was stunned by the protest by his team's rival.

"We came out on the floor, ready to go and it looked like they were ready to go," McBreen said. "We came back to the bench to get ready for the introductions and they took off their shooting shirts, threw them on the floor and walked off the court."

McBreen said his players packed up their belongings and left the gym.

"I left there with a numb feeling, like I was in shock," McBreen said. "I never saw this coming."

Terry Small, commissioner of the New Jersey Athletic Conference, said he's not sure how the conference will proceed. He said he contacted the NCAA and the association doesn't acknowledge forfeits.

"It's uncharted territory," Small said. "I know we do have a conference policy towards forfeits, but nothing like this."

McBreen said his team was worked up to play a big rivalry game.

"It's like someone knocked the wind out of our sails before we even started," he said. "There's no euphoria in getting this as a win."

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.