Ed Madec will not be returning to Fresno City College.

The former FCC men’s basketball coach successfully fought his first termination in 2020 for providing impermissible benefits to his team. Madec returned to teaching in 2022. But, in his second class during the fall 2023 semester, Madec allegedly made threats against those he perceived wronged him.

The State Center Community College District again dismissed Madec, and again he appealed. This time, an administrative law judge sided with SCCCD.

Administrative Law Judge Coren Wong upheld the firing of Madec in 2024. Wong issued his 60-page decision Aug. 20.

“We are aware of the ruling. As this is a personnel matter, we cannot provide further information,” SCCCD told GV Wire in a statement.

Several students testified during the multi-day hearing in February that Madec threatened administrators, including Chancellor Carol Goldsmith — although not by name. The district placed Madec — highly successful as basketball coach — on administrative leave before formally terminating him in 2024. The district also obtained a temporary restraining order.

The Fresno County District Attorney’s Office criminally charged Madec with making threats, but a judge dismissed the case, citing lack of evidence.

Wong affirmed Madec’s dismissal on three grounds — immoral conduct, dishonesty, and unfitness for service. Wong did not find enough evidence to dismiss Madec for refusal to obey laws and regulations.

Madec declined to talk until consulting with his attorney.

Madec Fired For Alleged Threats

Wong heard the appeal in February, in a series of sometimes-public hearings at a north Fresno law office.

Madec served as coach from 2006 until 2020. After winning his appeal, he returned to teach a health class in August 2022. He did not return as coach, as it was an at-will position.

Students told Wong that Madec told the class, “If I didn’t have my wife and kids, I would shoot the school.” Testimony said he also directed his threats at Goldsmith.

Goldsmith testified, saying being a target of Madec was “scary as hell.”

Madec’s Testimony

During his testimony described in Wong’s ruling, Madec discussed with his class how to handle stress, using his prior dismissal as an example.

“He expressed frustration over his termination and explained it was an example of his facing adversity yet still maintaining good cardiovascular health,” Wong wrote.

He denied making a threat to shoot or harm anyone, but admitted to mentioning Goldsmith and others, holding them responsible for his termination.

In the closing brief, Madec admitted inappropriate comments as an “’isolated instance of (an) emotional outburst following years of stress’ that he attributed to a ‘mental health episode.’ ”  Wong did not consider that a mitigating factor.

The district also accused Madec of canceling his first day of class to retrieve his lost dog. He testified he did dismiss class 15 minutes early that first day.

Several character witnesses testified on behalf of Madec, including former players who credited the coach for a positive impact.

Wong noted that only two of the 11 character witnesses read information on the second dismissal.

Judge’s Ruling

Wong found persuasive evidence that Madec did make threats, including threatening Goldsmith.

“There was conflicting evidence of the specific wording of respondent’s  threat. However, it was consistently described as something he said he would do under different circumstances, such as if he did not have a wife and kids, kids, three sons, or a family and good health and nutrition,” Wong wrote.

Although professors use personal stories as a teaching method, Wong wrote, Madec went too far, by also discussing his divorce and his incarcerated brother.

“Discussing such personal details exceeded the bounds of appropriate teaching techniques, was unnecessary, and needlessly wasted class time,” Wong wrote.

The judge also found Madec’s failure to “admit his misconduct evidences its likelihood of recurring and his unfitness to teach.”