Former St. John’s assistant coach Steve DeMeo filed a federal lawsuit Thursday against the university and head coach Mike Anderson alleging he was wrongfully terminated because of a health condition as well as making additional allegations about strife inside the men's basketball program.
According to the complaint filed by Wigdor LLP and obtained by Sports Illustrated, Anderson is accused of firing DeMeo after he disclosed ongoing medical conditions that would require additional accommodations, such as time to attend further appointments and procedures. DeMeo has a heart condition called mitral valve prolapse that required surgery in August 2020 to correct an irregular heartbeat, as well as a mass on his left vocal cord that was removed surgically.