ATHENS — The UGA Police Department’s investigation of the school’s tennis program has resulted in two individuals facing felony charges.
A warrant was issued Monday for former men’s assistant head coach Bo Hodge, who was charged with a felony for purchasing a controlled substance and a misdemeanor of theft by taking. He was suspended indefinitely by the school in May when the investigation began. His position has since been filled by former player Jamie Hunt, who was hired a couple of weeks ago after holding the same position at Vanderbilt.
Also arrested as a result of the investigation was Alex Diaz, the son of head coach Manuel “Manny” Diaz. Alex Diaz was booked on one felony charge of selling a controlled substance.
Coach Manny Diaz responded to requests for comment with a brief text:
“It is unfortunate my son Alex is involved in this situation,” the six-time national championship coach said. “He is a great kid. Because it is an ongoing legal matter, I cannot comment any further at this time.”
Hodges was booked into Athens-Clarke County jail at 10:50 a.m. Tuesday and was released on at 5:52 p.m. that afternoon. Diaz had not been processed as of Tuesday evening.
The charges “resulted from investigation into complaint of the possible theft and mishandling of prescription medication.”
DawgNation first reported word of the charges. No other information was immediately available.
It should be noted that UGA women’s tennis associate head coach Drake Bernstein was not arrested. Bernstein was also indefinitely suspended when the investigation began but his position as not otherwise been filled since then.
Neither Hodge nor Alex Diaz were listed on Tuesday’s inmate log for the Athens-Clarke County Jail. If and when they might be incarcerated is unclear.
On May 5, the week before UGA hosted the NCAA Tennis Championships, UGA police investigation launched an investigation into the possible theft and mishandling of prescription medication involving a number of individuals within the tennis program.” Head coach Manuel Diaz was listed as the complainant on the initial incident report. Simultaneously, UGA confirmed its respective associate head coaches had been suspended indefinitely.
The investigation has been ongoing ever since.