Syracuse University launches probe into women's basketball coach Quentin Hillsman amid allegations of bullying and inappropriate contact after 11 players transferred off the team
- Syracuse women's basketball coach Quentin Hillsman is facing an independent review amid accusations of bullying and unwanted physical contact
- Recently 11 players announced they were transferring away from the program, but Hillsman said that was the result of attrition and the COVID-19 pandemic
- The move announced Tuesday was prompted by allegations of threats, bullying and unwanted physical contact by Hillsman reported by The Athletic
- Sarah Scalese, senior associate vice president for communications, said in a statement from the university that 'the allegations... are troubling'
- Scalese said no formal complaints have been made by members of the women's basketball program and she encouraged any witness to come forward
- Players also said Hillsman made them feel uncomfortable by berating them, threatening them, and in one case, kissing them on their foreheads
- Known for his fine suits, Hillsman has 319-169 record in 15 seasons at Syracuse
Syracuse women's basketball coach Quentin Hillsman is facing an independent review amid accusations of bullying and unwanted physical contact after 11 players transferred away from the program - moves that he recently blamed on attrition and COVID-19.
The move announced Tuesday was prompted by allegations of threats, bullying and unwanted physical contact by Hillsman reported by The Athletic, which spoke to nine former players and other staff.
'The allegations ... are troubling,' Sarah Scalese, senior associate vice president for communications, said in a statement from the university. 'We take these allegations very seriously.'
Scalese said no formal complaints have been made by members of the women's basketball program and she encouraged anyone who has knowledge or has experienced such conduct to come forward.
Hillsman, who took over in 2006, did not immediately respond to a text message from The Associated Press.
'The way he threatened us, like we all knew he would never physically harm us, but he'd always be talking about beating our asses,' one player told The Athletic. 'Like, ''I'll f*** you guys up. I'll f*** you up. It's gonna be your ass if you f*** this up.'''
He's accused of telling each player 'I don't give a f*** about you' during one halftime tirade, according to seven witnesses.
Players also said Hillsman made them feel uncomfortable by kissing them on their foreheads and once allegedly coming up behind a player and touching her pelvic area before dismissing the contact as a joke.
'I was a great player. I was excited to play for a top program. We were top 10 when I committed, and all I wanted was to thrive,' one former player said. 'It's not just a bad culture or program. It's so toxic. It doesn't matter who you are, what your light is
if you're a positive person, it's going to break you.'
A day after the 11 players announced they were transferring, 6-foot-7 freshman center Kamilla Cardoso, Atlantic Coast Conference defensive player of the year and its top rookie, joined them and did not give a reason for her decision. The Brazilian was the highest-rated recruit in program history. That leaves the Orange likely with only three returning players to go with a solid incoming class and four transfers.
Among those who departed were: Emily Engstler, a key player who excelled as the first player off the bench and led the team in rebounding; starting guard and leading scorer Kiara Lewis; and Amaya Finklea-Guity and Maeva Djaldi-Tabdi. All are staying in the Atlantic Coast Conference - at Louisville, Clemson, Duke and Miami, in that order.
Hillsman, who has a record of 319-169 in 15 seasons at Syracuse, said that validated his program.
'We have some seniors that have opportunity to pursue other options,' he said in April. 'They're going to schools in our conference. That's a compliment to us. I'm good. If I had a problem, I would tell you. We're fine.'
Two weeks ago during an end-of-year press conference, Syracuse athletic director John Wildhack said he fully supported Hillsman and called the exodus 'a sign of the times.'
Point guard Tiana Mangakahia, who sat out the 2019-20 season while recovering from breast cancer surgery, also left the program, but that was expected. She had signed a training camp contract with the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA.
Mangakahia chimed in on social media in defense of Hillsman.
'It's sad when you don't get what you want (minutes/contracts after college) you accuse others of things to make them look bad. If only I exposed some of my teammates for how they treated me once I was diagnosed with Cancer.'
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