Former FAU Owls coach Carl Pelini has denied having used drugs, and has let it be known that he is actively seeking reinstatement after being forced to resign.
Pelini gave a statement to ESPN in which he tried to plea his case to athletic director Patrick Chun, who informed Pelini he was being relieved due to failure to supervise his staff:
Pelini said he “had recently become aware of a personal relationship between a staff member and a person close to the athletic department. The relationship, to my knowledge, did not involve illegal drug use or any other illegal activity.”
FAU defensive line coach Matt Edwards and Allison Stewart, who Chun called a “personal friend” of the coaches, both indicated in notarized affidavits that they observed Pelini smoking marijuana during a three-day coaches trip to Key West on Oct. 18-20. Edwards also stated he witnessed Pelini and Rekstis use cocaine within the past year. Stewart said in her affidavit that, on Oct. 20, she received a text message from Pelini admitting to drug use.
Chun told ESPN on Thursday he has seen that text message from Pelini to Edwards and that he stands by his statements from last week and he has “ample evidence” which was presented to each coach.
Chun also reiterated that Pelini “voluntarily resigned” and “refused to cooperate in the investigation.” When asked about Pelini being reinstated as coach, Chun said “he resigned. I accepted his resignation.”
Pelini has argued that he was not provided written notice and a 30-day investigation period, as required in his contract. The matter is still being reviewed by the school’s human relations department.