Louisiana State University swimming and diving crew members allege their coaches have engaged in bullying, racist feedback and “toxic” conduct.
The student-athlete exit interviews have been obtained by the Louisiana Illuminator and Tiger Rag in a public information request, based on Piper Hutchinson of the Illuminator. The Illuminator and Tiger Rag requested the college for copies of its student-athlete exit interviews from 2021-25. The NCAA requires all Division I faculties to conduct interviews with a sampling of athletes yearly as soon as they graduate or after their eligibility expires, however the interviews would not have to be recorded, Hutchinson reported.
Of LSU’s 16 athletic packages, the swimming and diving groups had essentially the most interviews recorded, with 35 college students giving suggestions over 4 years based mostly on the information supplied to the Illuminator. Although 10 athletes criticized Stancil and Bishop, virtually everybody interviewed had some constructive remark about their athletics expertise, based on Hutchinson.
The swimming and diving crew has one set of coaches for each women and men athletes, based on the Illuminator.
Complaints span a three-year interval and middle on head coach Rick Bishop and former affiliate head coach Leah Stancil, whose contract was not renewed when it expired earlier this 12 months.
“In their interviews, the athletes allege the swimming and diving program was rife with bullying and motivation through fear,” Hutchinson wrote.
Hutchinson singled out a number of complaints:
- One athlete stated this system broke them “physically and mentally,” whereas one other stated the coaches didn’t respect accidents.
- One pupil went as far as to state that Stancil “made her life hell,” the administrator who performed the interview wrote, inflicting her to have a psychological well being disaster. The assistant coach ruined the game for her, the athlete claimed.
- Multiple athletes stated of their interviews that Stancil made enjoyable of a Chinese pupil’s title, commented on athletes’ appearances and confirmed favoritism towards males on the crew.
- Other college students reported that after a lady on the crew complained about inappropriate conduct by male teammates, Bishop excused the boys’s conduct in feedback to the whole crew, saying “boys are stupid and can make stupid decisions” whereas making direct eye contact with the lady who made the report. The interview information don’t element the character of the inappropriate conduct.
- One pupil complained that Bishop intimidated her when she tried to lift considerations about Stancil’s conduct, alleging the pinnacle coach wouldn’t let her learn a letter detailing Stancil’s actions with out Stancil current.
LSU athletics spokesman Zach Greenwell advised the Illuminator the college doesn’t touch upon particular personnel issues.
In a letter notifying Stancil her contract wouldn’t be renewed, LSU athletic director Scott Woodward thanked the coach for her contributions to the college, based on Hutchinson.
“We appreciate your dedication and wish you the best in future endeavors,” Woodward stated within the letter, which the Illuminator and Tiger Rag obtained by a public information request.