An NIU athlete’s freedom apparently has been denied by Athletic Director Gerald O’Dell.

Freshman standout Mike Lipnisky, a member of the men’s basketball team, said he requested a “release from Grant-and-Aid” from O’Dell on Monday for transfer reasons. But the fifth-year athletic director would not oblige and allegedly fabricated upon confirmation.

“He did not ask me for a release,” O’Dell said on Tuesday at approximately 4:50 p.m. “I’m not going to get involved in any of those things right now—my No. 1 priority is the search (for a new coach) process.”

At 6 p.m. Tuesday, Mrs. Lori Lipnisky, Mike’s mother, said that she had “just talked to Mr. O’Dell and he does not want to give Mike the release.”

Seemingly aggravated at the situation, Mrs. Lipnisky doesn’t understand O’Dell’s position.

“Mike wants to get out of there (NIU) and Mr. O’Dell said that he’s not ready to give (Mike) a release,” Mrs. Lipnisky said. “Jim Molinari gets to leave without any hassles, so why can’t a student-athlete? It’s unfair.”

Mike Lipnisky has not been able to contact any other schools about transferring because a release is necessary to do so. When Kenny Battle transferred from NIU to the University of Illinois in 1986, a release was necessary before moving.

“He (O’Dell) is not going to give it to me until they hire a new coach,” Lipnisky said. “It’s kind of disappointing not to get the release.”

Lipnisky played in all 31 games under departed coach Jim Molinari this past season while racking up 725 minutes played (third on the team). The “diaper dandy” was sixth on the team with a 6.4 scoring average and was named a First-Team All Mid-Continent Newcomer.

The Rolling Meadows graduate noted that Molinari’s departure has nothing to do with his decision to look elsewhere.

“Coach Mo’s leaving wasn’t the whole reason,” Lipnisky said. “It’s just in my best interest.”