Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla has ended his relationship with Life Surge, the Christian organization that has come under scrutiny over allegations of predatory financial practices at its faith-based conferences.
Mazzulla told The Boston Globe on Saturday that he informed Life Surge he would no longer participate in its events and asked the organization to remove his image from its website. He had previously spoken at a Life Surge event in Portland, Maine, and had been scheduled to appear at another gathering in Hartford on October 17.
The Celtics coach said the organization initially appealed to him because it offered a platform to speak openly about his Christian faith. But after recent allegations became public, he decided the association was no longer one he could continue.
“I’m always looking for partnerships to be able to share my faith,” Mazzulla told the Globe. “It was a platform I thought made some sense for us, and when this comes out, you take your stand and move forward.”
Life Surge hosts faith-based conferences that combine celebrity speakers, worship and financial education. Recent reporting, including an investigation featured on Pablo Torre Finds Out, has raised allegations that attendees were pressured into purchasing costly financial mentorship and coaching packages that could reach tens of thousands of dollars. Some former participants have also alleged they were directed toward credit cards or other financing to pay for those programs.
Life Surge has denied wrongdoing and disputed claims that it engages in predatory sales practices. The allegations have not been established as findings of wrongdoing in court.
Mazzulla made clear that his concern extends beyond protecting his own reputation. He said his focus is also on people who may have been harmed or pressured through the organization’s programs.
“Once these allegations came out, I just completely backed out of it,” Mazzulla said, adding that he does not support the conduct Life Surge has been accused of.
The episode will not, however, change how Mazzulla approaches his faith publicly. He said he still intends to use his platform in ways he believes can have a positive impact, while being more careful about the organizations with which he associates.
His decision follows similar scrutiny surrounding other prominent Life Surge speakers. Tim Tebow said Friday that he was pausing his own relationship with the organization while his team investigates the allegations.
