Vestal, NY (My Sportsbook) - Binghamton University athletic director Dr. Joel Thirer has stepped down from the post amid several players being kicked off the men's basketball team due to legal troubles.

James Norris, the school's senior associate athletic director, will replace Thirer on an interim basis, announced school president Lois B. DeFleur.

"Recently there have been specific instances where student-athletics have not complied with our standards, and we took immediate action," said DeFleur. "Today, I am announcing...Dr. Joel Thirer will be stepping down as director of health, physical education and athletics, effective immediately. He will be assigned to the office of the provost, where he will work on projects related to undergraduate transfer issues."

In addition, the team's head coach, Kevin Broadus, will have to provide DeFleur with a recruitment and supervision plan for the school's basketball program. Binghamton will also bring in an external consultant to audit the athletic program and ensure that it is following America East and NCAA policies and procedures.

The start of Binghamton's problems came when Emmanuel Mayben was arrested for possession with intent to sell cocaine earlier this month. Having led the school to its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 2009, Mayben was immediately kicked off the team.

Just a day after Mayben was released from the program, Binghamton did the same to Malik Alvin, Corey Chandler, Paul Crosby, David Fine and Derrick Rivera.