Sarah Haney — the former UNC rowing coach who resigned on Monday — has denied reports of her role in a reported Title IX investigation into the program.

Shortly after her resignation, the Daily Tar Heel reported that UNC was investigating complaints made against Haney and assistant coach Anthony Brock. Student-athletes alleged that they endured emotional abuse, injury negligence and sexual harassment.

Haney released a statement through the university athletics department on Tuesday:

I want to set the record straight: I am not the subject of any formal investigation by the University related to Title IX or any other matter.

As I stated Monday, I made the choice to resign as head coach of Carolina’s rowing program because I want to prioritize my family and spend more time with my two children. Stepping down was a difficult decision because I love Carolina and our rowing program, but this is the best choice for me. I again want to thank Carolina’s coaches and staff for all of their support, and I look forward to cheering on the Tar Heels as an alum and fan.

A 1998 graduate of UNC, Haney took over as head coach of the rowing program in 2002. This year, the UNC rowing team finished tied for seventh (out of nine teams) in the ACC Championship.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Haney’s profile has been removed from UNC’s athletics staff directory. Brock’s profile remains as an assistant head coach, while Emilie Gross and Thomas Revelle are now labeled as “interim co-head coach.”

In a statement released yesterday, UNC athletics director Bubba Cunningham expressed his gratitude towards Haney’s contributions to the university.

“Sarah has played a key role in our rowing program since its inception, and I appreciate her hard work and commitment to Carolina as both a student-athlete and coach,” Cunningham said. “She always will be a member of our Tar Heel family, and I wish her the very best in her future endeavors.”

Cunningham and the UNC athletics department will begin the search for a new coach to lead the program in the spring.

Related Stories
‹
UNC Volleyball Receives $1 Million Gift From Former Player
On Thursday, UNC Athletics announced the volleyball program had received a $1 million gift from former player Donna Gutterman as part of the FORevHER fundraising campaign. The campaign’s goal is to “champion the women of Carolina Athletics’ past, present and future by supporting scholarships, facilities and mentorship and leadership development opportunities for future generations of […]
Feds: UNC Violated Title IX Laws
UNC violated Title IX anti-discrimination laws in its handling of sexual harassment and sexual assault complaints. That was the determination of the investigation by the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights defined in a letter on Monday following a complaint filed in January 2013. The letter from federal officials detailed areas where UNC failed to […]
UNC Combining Library Science, Data Science Schools Into New Entity
The two schools will be combined into a new entity focused on information technologies such as generative AI.
UNC Football Can't Even Be Normal on its Week Off
Carolina’s week off has been anything but. Head coach Bill Belichick’s Tar Heels have been embroiled in controversy since their loss to Clemson at Kenan Stadium on October 4. The following Monday, WRAL published an explosive investigative report into the state of Belichick’s program, detailing a “toxic” environment. The report cited parents and families of […]
UNC Researcher Earns MacArthur 'Genius' Grant to Support Work Preventing Drug Overdoses
Nabarun Dasgupta, an epidemiologist and researcher with UNC’s Gillings School of Public Health, is the latest Chapel Hill faculty member to earn a MacArthur Foundation fellowship. The private philanthropic organization announced its 2025 class of MacArthur Fellows on Wednesday, with Dasgupta among 22 people selected for the five-year grants, which come with no conditions. He […]
UNC Men's Basketball Brings Smiles, Laughter to ACC Tipoff
At least one high-profile team in Chapel Hill appears to be having fun. Head coach Hubert Davis, guard Seth Trimble and center Henri Veesaar were all in a jovial mood at the ACC Tipoff in Charlotte Tuesday afternoon, cracking smiles and telling jokes during their allotted 15 minutes at the podium. During Davis’ speaking time, […]
'I Will Never Retreat': UNC Professor Highlights Free Speech, Resolution in Beliefs in Return After Leave
By about 2 p.m. on Wednesday, UNC professor Dwayne Dixon would be back in front of his ASIA 150 class for instruction like normal. But a few hours before that, he was still addressing the abnormal circumstances surrounding him from being put onto administrative leave the prior week. Dixon, members of the American Association of […]
Chansky's Notebook: Sidelined
Art Chansky breaks down the latest news out of Bill Belichick's UNC football program, which pulled the plug on a Hulu docuseries yesterday.
'You Play for So Much More': Highlights from UNC Men's Basketball's Day at the ACC Tipoff
UNC head coach Hubert Davis, guard Seth Trimble and center Henri Veesaar spoke at the ACC Tipoff in Charlotte Tuesday afternoon. The Tar Heels have a new-look roster this season, featuring multiple incoming transfers and freshmen. Trimble and forward James Brown are the only scholarship players returning from the 2024-25 season. Here are selected highlights […]
Chansky's Notebook: The Right Time?
If UNC went ahead and pulled the plug on Bill Belichick's tenure in Chapel Hill, this would be the best time to do it.
›