The investigation into the UNC women’s basketball coaching staff stems from “a series of racially offensive remarks” made by head coach Sylvia Hatchell, according to the Washington Post.
Sources close to the program have indicated the investigation was due to comments that were racial in nature and made in the presence of players. The Washington Post report details the allegations as being that Hatchell once suggested the players would be “hanged from trees with nooses” by upcoming opponents if their play didn’t improve.
The Post cites interviews with “seven people with knowledge of the investigation, including six parents of current players.” The report says the parents spoke on condition of anonymity.
Hatchell’s attorney denied the allegations on Thursday, according to the Post, instead saying the coach had told the players that ACC opponents would “hang us out to dry.”
UNC placed the entire coaching staff on paid administrative leave on Monday while a review of the program takes place. The university said that an outside firm would “review and assess the culture of the women’s basketball program and the experience of our student-athletes.”
Thursday’s Washington Post article also indicates players were asked to play through injuries or that the severity of injuries were not taken seriously.
When asked at the UNC Board of Trustees meeting on Thursday, a university spokesman said there was no public update available on the investigation.
During the 2018-19 season, UNC women’s basketball finished 18-15 (8-8 ACC) and lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to California. The high point of the season was an upset over then-No. 1 Notre Dame in Chapel Hill.
Hatchell has coached at UNC since 1986 and has amassed a 751-325 record with the Tar Heels along with a national championship in 1994. She was inducted to the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame in 2013.
In September 2016, the university renewed Hatchell’s contract through the 2019-20 season despite the women’s basketball program being a major focus of the NCAA’s investigation into academic fraud.
File photo via Associated Press
If she said something like that,she needs to be fired.i love the Tar Heels but that has no place st unc.
Wasn t there of course but the phrase ” put through the wringer and hung out to dry ” comes from operating old washing machines and probably was a misunderstanding. Kids today just think they know all.
Now which of those statements sounds like something a coach would say? Or anyone for that matter. Sylvia Crawley is on staff. She needs to step up and confirm whether or not something was said.
Sounds like UNC AD is trying to force Hatchell out so Charlotte Smith can take over!
Noises and hung from trees is something black kids know for a fact.they don’t think it.if it was said she was way out of line.
Since Hatchell has been a coach since 1986 and if indeed she is a racist, I am wondering why her racist comments would not have been picked up earlier? So why now in 2019? Or is it that indeed the players have misunderstood what she said? That would be sad if this were the case since Hatchell has dedicated her life to coaching.