Former LSC Coach Charged with Embezzlement

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Created on Thursday, 31 October 2013 16:50

Written by Courtland Hanley

LYNDONVILLE - Former Lyndon State College baseball coach Edward Poland, 47, of Essex Junction has been accused of embezzlement from the college's baseball program. 

Lyndon State College officials contacted the Vermont State Police back in March 2013 regarding money missing from the program, shortly before Poland was forced to resign from his coaching position.

An investigation by Vermont State Police shows that approximately $10,000 of the program's funds remain unaccounted for.

During his only season as the coach of the Hornets, Poland led his team to a dismal 3-20 record. However, Poland may have been involved in other eyebrow-raising incidents stemming from the season before news of this embezzlement.

NewsLINC spoke with a member of the 2012-2013 Lyndon State College baseball team who wished to remain anonymous. That team member told NewsLINC that prior to the Hornet's 2013 baseball season, Poland asked the team to start fundraising for a bus trip to Florida for spring training.  Poland allegedly told the team that he was going to be spending some of his own money, as well as seeking sponsors for the team's costly trip. 

According to the player, members of the team were to "write checks directly to Poland, rather than the baseball program for apparel, and for their fundraising efforts."  This was "suspicious to a few of the players."

Poland allegedly later announced at a practice that the team raised enough money for the trip, and would be flying rather than taking the bus.  Our source says the team was rather surprised by this announcement.

The team member told NewsLINC that while on this trip, some team members drank alcohol at the airport, with one player of legal drinking age becoming overly intoxicated. Poland allegedly spoke with this player and the Lyndon State College Athletic Director about the incident, and it was decided that player was to be suspended for two games during the spring training trip. However, the player was reportedly only benched for four innings of the first game before returning to action. According to the team member, Poland told the Lyndon Athletic Director that the player did serve his entire suspension. Poland was also aware of more players drinking before boarding the plane.

The team member told NewsLINC that the four team captains were told by Poland that he had a meeting with the Lyndon State Athletic Director upon the team's return to Vermont. Soon after that meeting, Poland issued his resignation.

According to the team member we spoke with, the baseball team was under the impression that Poland had been forced to resign in March because of the team's behavior during their spring training trip. However, as the season progressed the players learned that Poland had allegedly lied on his resume. Our source says that players were also contacted by Vermont State Police as part of their investigation.

Poland is scheduled to appear in Caledonia District court on December 30th to answer to these charges.