Report: Ex-FAU Coach Denies Drug Use, Seeks Reinstatement

BOCA RATON (CBSMiami) - Former Florida Atlantic University Owls head football coach is asking to be reinstated to his job after he said he was forced to resign by athletic director Patrick Chun, according to ESPN.com.

Carl Pelini resigned from his position on October 30 after he was confronted by Chun with allegations of illegal drug use.

Pelini told ESPN that Chun said at least one staff member admitted using drugs in the coach's presence, but Pelini denied any knowledge of a staff member using illegal drugs.

According to the ex-FAU coach, Pelini said he offered to take a drug test for Chun, but was told it didn't matter.

Pelini said the Chun told him, "denial of illegal drug use was irrelevant because I was being relieved of my duties for failure to supervise my staff."

According to the ESPN report, 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."

In affidavits provided to the school, FAU defensive line coach Matt Edwards and Allison Stewart said they saw Pelini smoke marijuana during a trip to Key West. Edwards also said he saw Pelini use cocaine in the last year and that she had a text confirming drug use.

According to the ESPN report, Pelini said he was never given written notice and a 30-day investigation period as required by his contract. He also said the resignation came after Chun and a FAU police officer confiscated his phone and not let him contact a lawyer.