Connie Yori resigns as Nebraska Head Coach

[UConnCat]

I had no idea there was an investigation.

Yori out as Nebraska women's basketball coach

 

[Vowelguy]

Wow.
An unexpected P5 opening.

AZ and WI filled. I think CO was filled but not sure.
Trying to remember if others are still open.

 

[EricLA]

That is pretty stunning. What took me even more by surprise was the following:

Nebraska women’s basketball coach Connie Yori has resigned after a two-month long investigation by the Nebraska athletic department into allegations Yori mistreated players and fostered a negative, dysfunctional culture, multiple sources confirmed to the Journal Star.

"A source with knowledge of the situation, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the Journal Star more than 10 players from the 2015-16 team, along with some support staff members, approached Nebraska athletic department administrators in early February with concerns about Yori’s treatment of players.

The athletic department immediately addressed those concerns and began an extensive investigation and review that included having an administrator present at every practice."

To me the most stunning thing is that more than 10 players from the 2015-2016 team approached the administration. MORE THAN 10. There are currently 13 players on the roster. That means that somewhere between 11 and all of them made the complaint. In Yori's statement, she said the "vehemently denies" the allegations, but I find it hard to believe that at least 11 out of 13 players could all be imagining something as grievous as this.

Nebraska was 18-13 this year, 9-9 in their league, but Yori really brought that team out of nowhere a few years back with a deep run in the NCAA's and it seems like with the recruitment of top freshman Jessica Shephard, she was working on getting them back up there going forward.

 

[Dillon77]

Wow.
An unexpected P5 opening.

AZ and WI filled. I think CO was filled but not sure.
Trying to remember if others are still open.

Colorado hired JR Payne from Santa Clara Payne Named Women's Basketball Coach
Virginia Tech hired Kenny Brooks from Virginia Tech.
Central Florida hired Karen Abrahamson-Henderson from Albany.
Other coaching positions which are open that come to mind: Albany, George Washington, James Madison University, Santa Clara and, now, Nebraska.

Possibility for Nebraska: Amy Williams, who just won the Women's NIT title at South Dakota and happens to be a Nebraska alum.
She led SD to post-season tournament berths in each of her four seasons at SD.
University of South Dakota Athletics - 2015-16 Women's Basketball Coaching Staff

 

[Nuyoika]

That is pretty stunning. What took me even more by surprise was the following:

Nebraska women’s basketball coach Connie Yori has resigned after a two-month long investigation by the Nebraska athletic department into allegations Yori mistreated players and fostered a negative, dysfunctional culture, multiple sources confirmed to the Journal Star.

"A source with knowledge of the situation, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the Journal Star more than 10 players from the 2015-16 team, along with some support staff members, approached Nebraska athletic department administrators in early February with concerns about Yori’s treatment of players.

The athletic department immediately addressed those concerns and began an extensive investigation and review that included having an administrator present at every practice."

To me the most stunning thing is that more than 10 players from the 2015-2016 team approached the administration. MORE THAN 10. There are currently 13 players on the roster. That means that somewhere between 11 and all of them made the complaint. In Yori's statement, she said the "vehemently denies" the allegations, but I find it hard to believe that at least 11 out of 13 players could all be imagining something as grievous as this.

Nebraska was 18-13 this year, 9-9 in their league, but Yori really brought that team out of nowhere a few years back with a deep run in the NCAA's and it seems like with the recruitment of top freshman Jessica Shephard, she was working on getting them back up there going forward.

Does this mean there will be transfers.... I think yes.

 

[mdakota]

I misread this the first time around... I read Re Sign.. as in an extension... I thought ahh that's nice... Then I read it for the second time and realized she quit... Sometimes I'm just too slow.

 

[Dillon77]

Colorado hired JR Payne from Santa Clara Payne Named Women's Basketball Coach
Virginia Tech hired Kenny Brooks from Virginia Tech.
Central Florida hired Karen Abrahamson-Henderson from Albany.
Other coaching positions which are open that come to mind: Albany, George Washington, James Madison University, Santa Clara and, now, Nebraska.

Possibility for Nebraska: Amy Williams, who just won the Women's NIT title at South Dakota and happens to be a Nebraska alum.
She led SD to post-season tournament berths in each of her four seasons at SD.
University of South Dakota Athletics - 2015-16 Women's Basketball Coaching Staff

Oops. Kenny Brooks drove south on 81 from James Madison to join Va. Tech.

 

[Plebe]

Wow.

To me, one of the more striking developments over the past several years in WCBB has been the succession of player mutinies, of varying degree, amid allegations of abusive treatment from the head coach. Penn State, Boston University, Oregon State, Oakland, Illinois, and Georgetown are just a few examples that come to mind.

This phenomenon seems much more rare on the men's side, the Rutgers case notwithstanding.

 

[mdakota]

Don't forget Sheila Kelly from Middle Delaware State

Watch Outside the Lines from Saturday Night Live on NBC.com

 

[UConnCat]

Does this mean there will be transfers.... I think yes.

Depends on who is hired. I hope Nebraska makes a good hire and the players stay. UConn plays at Nebraska next season.

 

[bags27]

It is a sad thing that this type of thing (cruelty towards one's players) happens more often than we might suspect. Partly, I guess, it's reported more, because students are more confident that their complains will be heard. But if it's happening more often now (and I don't know that it is), it's probably due to the ever increasing pressure from ADs for coaches to win. ADs get pressure (or perceive it to be pressure) from the admin. and from donors (who do hang around athletics too much) and ADs in turn put pressure on their coaches. I'm not excusing this because of that reason. It's a character flaw in the coaches. Just saying, that the bigger, more lucrative, more useful for fund-raising, sports gets, the more this could happen.

 

[Plebe]

Don't forget Sheila Kelly from Middle Delaware State

Watch Outside the Lines from Saturday Night Live on NBC.com

Somehow I had missed this skit. Funny stuff, but sadly not too far from what some players seem to have experienced. The toaster was a nice touch.

 

[mdakota]

I'm glad more and more people are speaking out... Everybody should be treated with respect and common decency...

That skit is killer though "When someone blows by you you're toast, when your toast and you've been toasted, you get hit with a toaster" classic McCarthy

 

[RockyMTblue2]

That is pretty stunning. What took me even more by surprise was the following:

Nebraska women’s basketball coach Connie Yori has resigned after a two-month long investigation by the Nebraska athletic department into allegations Yori mistreated players and fostered a negative, dysfunctional culture, multiple sources confirmed to the Journal Star.

"A source with knowledge of the situation, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the Journal Star more than 10 players from the 2015-16 team, along with some support staff members, approached Nebraska athletic department administrators in early February with concerns about Yori’s treatment of players.

The athletic department immediately addressed those concerns and began an extensive investigation and review that included having an administrator present at every practice."

To me the most stunning thing is that more than 10 players from the 2015-2016 team approached the administration. MORE THAN 10. There are currently 13 players on the roster. That means that somewhere between 11 and all of them made the complaint. In Yori's statement, she said the "vehemently denies" the allegations, but I find it hard to believe that at least 11 out of 13 players could all be imagining something as grievous as this.

Nebraska was 18-13 this year, 9-9 in their league, but Yori really brought that team out of nowhere a few years back with a deep run in the NCAA's and it seems like with the recruitment of top freshman Jessica Shephard, she was working on getting them back up there going forward.

We saw this with the BC or BU coach a few years back. When they lose sight of the fact that they are educators and their own personal drive turns ugly, worse than ugly stuff happens.

 

[Checkmate]

Is this the Charmin generation, or is there something to the claims. Not all coaches pamper their teams.

Connie Yori resigns as Husker women's basketball coach, 'vehemently' denies allegations of mistreatment

 

[DaddyChoc]

Oops. Kenny Brooks drove south on 81 from James Madison to join Va. Tech.

surprised he'd leave such a program that he built himself

 

[DaddyChoc]

a lot of injuries... she also was getting a nice salary

 

[Wbbfan1]

Resigns and Gets a 1 Million dollar severance package. Good Deal.

Former Husker hoops coach Connie Yori to receive more than $1 million in severance package

 

[JordyG]

I feel for players such as Shepard in Nebraska and White in Illinois. Fine young players that decided to stay at home rather than test themselves at established programs. Now their chances of developing to their potential or even making the March Cotillion are fading fast. White seems committed to the mediocrity of Illinois since she and her parents backed their current coach. Shepard will probably "wait and see" through the new coach. Hopefully things will go well for her. I'm glad Azura Stevens got out when she did. My fingers are crossed that Azura will make the right decision and go to a program where her potential can be realized.

 

[Dillon77]

I feel for players such as Shepard in Nebraska and White in Illinois. Fine young players that decided to stay at home rather than test themselves at established programs. Now their chances of developing to their potential or even making the March Cotillion are fading fast. White seems committed to the mediocrity of Illinois since she and her parents backed their current coach. Shepard will probably "wait and see" through the new coach. Hopefully things will go well for her. I'm glad Azura Stevens got out when she did. My fingers are crossed that Azura will make the right decision and go to a program where her potential can be realized.

There's talent at Nebraska: Besides Shephard,the Big1G rookie of the year, I think three of their other leading scorers are coming back from a teamthat did make the NIT. In addition, Kathleen Doyle, an excellent guard out of Lisle, Illinois is committed to Nebraska.
Cornhusker administration is going to have move decisively and well to make sure that kind of talent decides to move on and then treat the players well, which seemed to be an issue there....

 

[JordyG]

There's talent at Nebraska: Besides Shephard,the Big1G rookie of the year, I think three of their other leading scorers are coming back from a teamthat did make the NIT. In addition, Kathleen Doyle, an excellent guard out of Lisle, Illinois is committed to Nebraska.
Cornhusker administration is going to have move decisively and well to make sure that kind of talent decides to move on and then treat the players well, which seemed to be an issue there....

Unfortunately Nebraska (and Illinois) has virtually no quality recruits for next year and few prospects for recruitment in 2017. Especially with this happening. I'm sure Ms. Doyle is fine young woman, but hardly the quality recruit needed for this team to make the tournament. Although Ms. Cayton seems slightly better, neither seem as good as Ms Theriot. Also, changing coaches is rarely good for player development. They seem, as does Illinois, doomed to mediocrity.

 

[Dillon77]

Unfortunately Nebraska (and Illinois) has virtually no quality recruits for next year and few prospects for recruitment in 2017. Especially with this happening. I'm sure Ms. Doyle is fine young woman, but hardly the quality recruit needed for this team to make the tournament. Although Ms. Cayton seems slightly better, neither seem as good as Ms Theriot. Also, changing coaches is rarely good for player development. They seem, as does Illinois, doomed to mediocrity.

Granted, Kathleen Doyle is not Jackie Young or Crystal Dangerfield. She's not -- they're first team USA Today players and she's third team. She helped lead her team to the Illinois State 4A Title and was named Illinois Player of the Year by the Chicago Tribune (a title Morgan Tuck won twice) By being named 3rd team All-American by USA Today, she joined the likes of Megan Walker, who both UConn and ND fans would love to have on their team after she graduates from HS. I've included the links for Doyle below. So, while Ms. Doyle may be "a fine young woman," she also appears to have shown some chops to her game the past few years.

Also, when you say "...make the tournament," I presume you mean making the NCAA tournament. If so, Nebraska and Illinois are in totally different zones.Illinois last made the NCAA in 2003. Starting in 2009-2010, Nebraska made the NCAA 5 out of 7 years, and missed out this year, when they lost 7 of their last 10 games and went to the WNIT. The talk there was how they could avoid injuries, tighten up a defense and get back to the NCAAs. Obviously, someone thought there was something a bit more wrong.

You're right...changing coaches is not optimal for anyone's development, but Shephard looks like she's going to stay, based on the article below (in fact, the only person who seems to be weighing her options is Ms. Doyle...).

Ms. Basketball of Illinois 2016: Benet's Kathleen Doyle was born for this
ALL-USA Girls Basketball: Meet the Third Team

Players 'distraught' following Connie Yori's resignation as Nebraska women's basketball coach; touted guard signees assessing situation