LOYOLA PARTS WAYS WITH SWOOPES
Alleged mistreatment, slew of transfers lead to Hall of Famer’s firing
About 2 ½ months after saying it would launch an investigation into allegations of her mistreatment of players, Loyola fired women’s basketball coach Sheryl Swoopes on Sunday.
Swoopes’ dismissal was far more quiet than the transfer of 15 players from her final two seasons as the Ramblers’ coach. Loyola announced the firing in a three- sentence statement, making the decision public at a curious time: shortly after 5 p. m. Sunday, in the middle of a three- day holiday weekend.
‘‘ Sheryl Swoopes is no longer serving as the women’s basketball coach at Loyola University Chicago,’’ athletic director Steve Watson said in the statement. ‘‘ A search for her replacement will begin immediately. Loyola thanks Sheryl for her service to the women’s basketball program.’’
Watson wouldn’t comment further, an athletic department spokesperson said. Swoopes learned of the decision shortly before it was made public, sources said.
‘‘ In response to the inquiries made about the investigation, Sheryl is pleased and comfortable with its outcomes,’’ a Swoopes spokesperson said in a statement. ‘‘ She is disappointed, however, with the actions that have followed. In respect of the [ July 4] holiday, we plan to have Sheryl’s voice heard at an appropriate time.’’
Loyola announced its investigation — by the university, not the athletic department — April 15. It eventually hired the law firm Dykema to assist.
Five players left the program after a 6- 25 season in 2014- 15 — Swoopes’ second with the school — and 10 more left after a 14- 16 season in 2015- 16. Some former players and managers complained about psychological distress caused by Swoopes and her staff, sources told the Sun- Times.
Former player Cate Soane told the Sun- Times she was ‘‘ humiliated’’ and ‘‘ belittled’’ by Swoopes and her staff, who subjected her ‘‘ to a lot of inappropriate conduct.’’
After leaving Loyola following the 2013- 14 season, Soane asked the NCAA to waive the mandatory redshirt season for transfers, saying Swoopes created a hostile environment. She said Swoopes mocked her and called her disloyal. The NCAA denied her request.
Reached Sunday, Soane — who later played briefly at UIC — was pleased by Loyola’s decision to fire Swoopes.
‘‘ No other student will go through what I had to go through,’’ she said.
Soane said she never spoke with investigators. They exchanged messages while she was traveling.
‘‘ I thought something was definitely not right when I was playing,’’ she said. ‘‘ I didn’t agree with what was going on, and that was why I transferred.’’
In late May, sources confirmed another allegation made by former players that the staff sometimes took away their laptops and schoolbooks on road trips to force them to focus on basketball.
In June, Swoopes released a denial through her spokesperson, who is unaffiliated with Loyola. She said there had been ‘‘ accusations and false attacks made of my character and coaching.’’
Loyola hired Swoopes three years ago, even though she had little coaching experience beyond a stint as an assistant at Mercer Island ( Washington) High School in 2010.
Her playing reputation is almost unmatched in the history of the sport. She was named to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in April and will be enshrined in September.
Swoopes won three Olympic gold medals, four WNBA titles with the Houston Comets and an NCAA title at Texas Tech. To commemorate its 20th season, the WNBA named her one of its 20 greatest players last month.
Finding a replacement quickly is crucial for Loyola. July is a critical recruiting month, with evaluation periods running from Wednesday to July 12 and July 23- 29.
The Ramblers had signed three recruits and received four verbal commitments for next season before Swoopes’ firing.