Player Abuse In Women’s College Basketball Isn’t New

Coaching for an extended period (especially at the same school) may contribute to the problem.  

After a thorough investigation of the program, Sylvia Hatchell is out as women’s basketball coach at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her 33-year career with the Tar Heels ended under a cloud, despite numerous accolades and ranking 5th in NCAA victories. Accusations of “racial insensitivity” and “pressuring athletes to play tough through injuries” were found to be credible.

Courtesy BET Networks

I wonder why so many coaches stay on so long at one school?

Once they’ve built the program to successful heights, why not move on to other goals and challenges? Ten years seems to be long enough at the same school. But that idea doesn’t have widespread appeal.

A number of the top women’s basketball coaches have been at the same school for over 30 years. Examples include Tara VanDerveer (Stanford), Muffet McGraw (Notre Dame), and Geno Auriemma (UConn).

Success, fame, and millions of dollars in salary/bonuses are significant reasons for staying. Many coaches enjoy working with student-athletes, too. But does staying so long at one school sometimes lead to player transfers, internal discord, and accusations? Have some coaches failed to adapt to diversity? Or are athletes prima donnas and oversensitive?

In addition to Hatchell, other women’s coaches left their programs this year for reasons other than wins and losses. Georgia Tech fired MaChelle Joseph in March. She was head coach there for sixteen years, but an internal investigation revealed complaints of emotional abuse and bullying. And at Northern Kentucky University, an investigation began after complaints by players of mental abuse and bullying were targeted at head coach Camryn Whitaker.

In 2016, Connie Yori resigned after 14 years at Nebraska amid an investigation involving player mistreatment. And in 2014, Boston University and head coach Kelly Greenberg parted ways after ten years. An investigation revealed four players quit the team, citing bullying and verbal abuse, giving up their $60,000-a-year scholarships.

Earlier, legendary women’s basketball coach Billie Moore resigned at UCLA after 16 years. Her players complained of mental and verbal abuse. At that time, Moore said “I don’t know if you can push them as you could ten years ago. I think with the players now you have to be a lot more patient. It’s just part of society. The kids have changed…there’s just a different level of sensitivity.”

Courtesy Newsday

Twenty-six years later, many of the same sentiments are being expressed. Notre Dame’s Muffet McGraw remarked recently, I think this generation is not tolerant…. They’re demanding to be treated better. But kids are going to get yelled at. They need to be able to take a little bit of that.”

UConn’s Auriemma chimed in with similar thoughts: “The players get off scot-free in everything. They can do whatever they want. They don’t like something you say to them, they transfer. Coaches, they have to coach with one hand behind their back.”

Similar comments appeared in an article written by Trish Kellogg, whose husband, Mark, is the women’s basketball coach at Stephen F. Austin University (TX). In Basketball is Life: Coach’s Wife Annoyed with Women’s Basketball Culture, she lamented that “the culture of women’s basketball is starting to become one of entitlement and blame.” She sees players banding together–claiming emotional abuse–because the coach yells at them or is demanding.

Immaculata College (PA), known as the Mighty Macs, fielded women’s college basketball teams that won the first three national AIAW tournaments (1972-74). This 1975 photo shows the Mighty Macs v. Towson State (MD). (photo courtesy The Washington Post)

That’s certainly one take on the situation, but my perspective is different.

I played college basketball at a state university in Ohio. It was the early 1970s before the NCAA got involved in women’s sports. The AIAW (Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women) governed women’s sports back then. It was also a time before scholarships were awarded for women: summer jobs and student loans paid for college then. And, yes, I played at a time before Title IX.

We played because we loved the game. We were fortunate to have uniforms, and we often had to coax school officials for practice time in the gym. We carpooled, driving ourselves to away games across the state. No out-of-state games were allowed when I played.

There wasn’t conditioning or sprint drills. We came to play and wanted to be competitive and win. Many players, myself included, weren’t always happy with the coach’s decisions, attitude, or techniques, but disagreements never escalated to the level of emotional or abusive behavior.

If I had played for a coach who was emotionally abusive or treated me like crap, I would have quit playing basketball. To me, it was a GAME, not a LIFE. There were no incentives then–no TV coverage, no opportunities to play in pro leagues, and no possible lucrative product endorsements. Women’s basketball wasn’t big business as it is now.

Still, though, I think it may be time for today’s coaches to step back and re-examine their methods and coaching style. There’s no justification or excuse for treating players shabbily, being a bully, or making insensitive remarks.

Legendary UCLA men’s coach, John Wooden. once said, “A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment.” I’m saddened that so many coaches stay too long and don’t go out on top with dignity and respect intact.

With that in mind, I’m reminded of a song by the British band The Clash entitled, “Should I Stay or Should I Go?”

Perhaps that is something women’s basketball coaches should ask themselves.

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Carolyn Bower finds inspiration in many different areas and that has led her to write about a wide range of topics.  She’s working currently on articles about music, sports, and animal welfare. Read her here.