Bozeman Calls Plight a Smear Campaign

Todd Bozeman’s coaching career at California is over, but the controversy is only beginning.

Bozeman, who is accused of committing NCAA rules violations and sexually harassing a former student, is accusing a former player and his father of a smear campaign.

In an interview with The Times last week, Bozeman said that former player Jelani Gardner and his father, Tom Gardner, have told the NCAA he violated rules in retaliation for cutting Jelani’s playing time last season and suspending him for a game for allegedly smoking marijuana.

Tom Gardner declined to comment on the drug allegation but acknowledged going to the NCAA about Bozeman.

“I did what I set out to do,” Gardner said. “It was me, not Jelani. The important thing is that Todd Bozeman is no longer in control at Cal.”

Jelani Gardner, who transferred to Pepperdine in June, denied any involvement with the NCAA’s investigation.

“The [Cal players] are my friends,” Jelani said. “I’ve only wished the best for them. The NCAA has asked me questions but I told them there was never any violation that I was involved in.”

The rift between Bozeman and the Gardners threatens to open an already gaping wound at Cal.

The Cal basketball program, a Pacific 10 conference power that only three years ago appeared headed toward being one of the best in the country, is now facing NCAA charges that reportedly include players accepting cash and gifts from agents.

Athletic Director John Kasser confirmed the Bears are the subject of an NCAA investigation, and said “there could be a few things out there” that could attract the interest of the investigators.

Bozeman, 32, says the NCAA also has a vendetta against him and has “targeted” him for some time.

Bozeman, who led Cal to a record of 63-35 in 3 1/2 years, claims he has never broken the rules. He describes Tom Gardner as a domineering father whose only concern is for Jelani to play in the NBA.

He said Tom Gardner hurt his son last season by forcing Jelani to put their personal agenda ahead of the team’s.

According to Bozeman, Tom told Jelani not to obey Bozeman’s instructions and as a result, Jelani became uncoachable.

“I actually feel sorry for [Jelani],” Bozeman said. “Tom Gardner was upset with me because his son was not in the limelight as much as he wanted. It must be tough for Jelani to play for a father who wants to control his life that much.”

Bozeman has seen controversy before. Last year the NCAA looked into accusations that Cal improperly recruited star Shareef Abdur-Rahim. And when Bozeman first took over at Cal, many accused him of orchestrating the firing of Coach Lou Campanelli during the 1992-93 season in order to get his job.

The latest twists are the accusations made by Suzanne Wilson, a former Cal student, who claimed that Bozeman threatened and made sexually explicit phone calls to her.

She filed for a temporary restraining order against him last week.

Bozeman wouldn’t comment on the allegations but in a declaration filed with an Alameda court, Bozeman claims it was Wilson that plotted with a friend to have sex with him.

He says he has known Wilson since 1991 and she made these accusations because she was angry over his insistence she return money he loaned her.

Gardner laughs at the story.

“He is a bodacious liar who can’t deal with reality,” Tom Gardner said. “With his whole career going up in smoke all he can do is blame others.”

The Associated Press contributed to this story.