Mike Thomas should probably be working on his resume
April 25, 2015
David and Lydia Tuck
Chancellor Phyllis Wise
Swanlund Administration Building
601 E. John Street
Champaign,IL 61820
Dear Chancellor Wise,
We are writing in regards to some concerns that have become epidemic and are affecting the entire Illinois Women's Basketball Program. It is our understanding that at least some levels of the administration have been alerted to many of these concerns, but we believe that challenges are broad enough that the highest levels of authority should be made aware. It is common knowledge that some player's parents are planning to escalate these issues. It is not our intention to bring reproach upon the program or the school. In fact, it is our hope that through quick and intentional action the school can head offrepercussions that could lead to challenges on several fronts.
To come to the immediate point, Head Coach Matt Bollant has created a culture of mental and emotional abuse in the Women's Basketball Program and has not been compliant in areas of NCAA rules and principles. The following would be some of the areas that will be easy to verify in a broad consensus among a majority of the players:
1. Coach Bollant has systematically tried to create racial tension among the team.
2. He has verbally abused and berated girls based on personal attributes that have nothing to do with basketball (such as their intellectual ability).
3. He has systematically tried to discourage team members to the point of voluntary scholarship withdrawal, particularly players that were in the program before he became head coach.
4. Without reasonable cause or violation, on numerous occasions he has threatened to take players scholarships, including telling them not to bother to renew their apartment leases because they would not be remaining with the team.
5. Showing extreme preference in what could only be perceived as attempts to belittle and discourage all but the favored players.
If these were isolated incidents then there would be little that any one individual could do to build a case for abuse. However, these infractions have happened on a reoccurring basis, and in certain instances, have involved the entire team. These violations have gone against the highest principles and standards of the university and the NCAA, as well as basic student rights. It is clear that the following areas of the NCAA Constitution (2014-2015), though subjective, have been violated in principle: Article 2:2.2.1-5. Also, the mandate of the University of Illinois for reporting objective violations of By-laws 10.1(c), 12.1.2.1.5 and I2.1.2.1.6 is plainly evident. These NCAA constitutional and by-law rules are substantially restated in paraphrase in the University of Illinois Student-Athlete Handbook (20 I 4-20 1 5).
It is very clear that the Women's Basketball Team is in violation of the NCAA Inclusion Rules that are mandated by the Rehabilitation Act, Section 504, and enforced by the OCR (Office of Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education). The NCAA Inclusion guidelines refer to the OCR issue of a "Dear Colleague Letter" on January 25,2013 that clarified the understanding of discrimination in intercollegiate sports and brings understanding to these institutions as to the necessity of abiding by federal government mandates in their sports programs. For a coach to point out a student's disability (that the student athlete has an IEP for), and then to berate the student, violates the student athlete's civil rights and is discriminatory and harassment based on disability. Also, announcing on a radio program that aplayer has been dealing with depression is both a discriminatory violation and a violation of privacy.
Furthermore, a head coach announcing to the parents that an assistant coach is bipolar can in no way mitigate the abuse that is being perpetrated upon student athletes. On the contrary, it proves a point of negligent liability showing that the school has knowledge of the abuse but has chosen to excuse it.
In the past few years much study has been done regarding abusive coaches and their relationships with the athletes that they coach. It is understood that there are many reasons why an athlete will not report a coach for his/her abuses. It has been difficult to stand by as our daughter, Taylor, has informed us of the violations that have affected her and her teammates. As parents it is our natural instinct to protect our children, even as they have entered into adulthood. We hope that the university will quickly take the necessary steps to bring this program into proper compliance and protect the athletes who have made great effort to properly and respectfully represent the University of Illinois under very challenging circumstances. To prevent this from becoming an open spectacle of reproach for the university, I believe it would be in order for the team to be informed, in a timely manner, of administrative actions that are being taken to rectify the serious issues. Hopefully, this will curtail further actions from being taken by the athletes and their families that would bring this matter into a more public arena.
Please understand that we do not have a vendetta in any way against the University of Illinois. We have appreciated the high values and principles that the university stands for. However, in this particular case, we believe that a lack of information has been the most likely cause of the inaction of the university. Clearly, it is too late for actions taken by the university to have any positive affect on our daughter. However, it is our desire that student-athletes remaining at the school willbe protected. Also, action by the university might go a long ways toward bringing healing to players who have been embittered and wounded by the Head Coach and his staff. Although we do not purport to represent other players or their families, if you deem it of value we would be willing to discuss this further.
In light of the NCAA Constitution Article 2.1.1, we are copying this information to the university President, Chancellor, Board of Trustees higher officers, and the applicable Board of Trustees committee and Student Representative.
Sincerely,
David and Lydia Tuck
cc: Mike Thomas, Director of Athletics
President Bob Easter
President-designate Timothy Killeen
Board of Trustees, Chairman Edward L. McMillan
Board of Trustees, Secretary Susan M. Kies
Board of Trustees Governance, Personnel and Ethics Committee: Chairman Patrick J. Fitzgerald, Timothy Koritz, James D. Montgofrery, Sr., Patricia Brown Holmes, Hannah Cave
Board of Trustees, Student Representative Lucas N. Frye
http://www.news-gazette.com/sports/...rs-regarding-ui-womens-basketball-program.htm