By Brenda June Temple

Since head coach Jeff Jones, a former point guard at the University of Virginia (1978-82), took the job at Old Dominion in 2013-14, the Monarchs are usually a contender for the Conference USA and Sun Belt titles.

But this year has been a disaster at the Norfolk, Virginia school.

First of all, 63-year-old Jones suffered a heart attack Dec. 20 at the Diamond Head Classic in Honolulu.

Then Jones also is battling prostate cancer.

Those health issues led him to took a leave of absence from the team for the rest of the season.

Adding to the mix a bad showing on the court for the Monarchs, who are 5-16, 1-8 conference record.

Taking over the team is interim coach Kieran Donohue, a top assistant coach.

And his first issue was to dismiss the star player of the team, Vasean Allette, for “conduct unbecoming of a Monarch.”

The Toronto, Ontario, native is a freshman and leaders the team in in rebounding, assists and steals.

The 6’3, 175-lb guard stat sheet is 17.4 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 3.1 apg and 45.2% shooting from the floor.

He had started the first 18 games. Then a change in the starting lineup had him coming off the bench in a 78-62 loss at home to James Madison. Which may have been the problem. And be did not play in a 76-70 loss to Georgia Southern also at home.

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