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South Florida head football coach Jim Leavitt was fired over allegedly grabbing a football player by the throat and then hitting him twice in the face. A month long investigation resulted in the firing of Leavitt.
According to an Associated Press article (USF Coach Leavitt Fired Amid Allegations That He Hit a Player, January 8, 2010 ), Leavitt stated that “he was trying to lift the spirits of a player who was 'down' when he grabbed the player's shoulder pads during halftime of a game against Louisville on Nov. 21.”
It is interesting to note that the player himself didn’t report the assault, but an investigation by the university uncovered the incident and the coach was immediately fired upon conclusion of the investigation.
Texas Tech University Coach Fired
Texas Tech University head football coach Mike Leach was fired by the university after allegations that he had made one of his football players (who had sustained a concussion) stand in an equipment shed in the dark for three hours.
An article posted on ESPN.com (University Releases Affidavit, by Joe Schad, January 3, 2010) reported that an athletic trainer at Texas Tech University had stated that former coach Mike Leach “instructed him to "lock" receiver Adam James in a dark place and that he disagreed with Leach's treatment of James after the player was diagnosed with a concussion.”
The certified athletic trainer that placed James in the shed, Steve Pincock, stated in the article that although he felt that the treatment of James was inappropriate and that he didn’t agree with it, he stated that he felt that “he had to follow the instructions of the head coach” (Schad, J., University Releases Affidavit, January 3, 2010).
Kansas University Head Coach Mangino Resigns
Mark Mangino, head football coach at Kansas University, resigned after allegations that he subjected his football players to both verbal and physical abuse (Associated Press, Allegations Give coaches Pause, January 12, 2010).
Kansas alumni, Cori Kipp (played in 2002, 2003) provided proof of player abuse in the form of pictures showing second degree burns on one of his hands after Mangino made Kipp perform “bear-crawls” across the AstroTurf field during a practice in August, 2003 (Dugan, A., Ex-player Accuses Mangino of Mistreatment, December 2, 2009).
The “bear-crawl” drill was punishment for Kipp missing a weigh-in earlier in the day. Kipp stated that Mangino walked beside him while he “bear-crawled” on his hands and feet across the AstroTurf field. Kipp stated that Mangino made him continue to crawl even after complaining that the Astroturf was burning his hands.
When “Discipline” Crosses the Line
There are lines that should not be crossed by any coach at any level. These include:
- intentionally causing harm or injury to a player
- physically assaulting a player
- placing a player in a situation that may cause harm or injury
- implementing a drill that may cause harm or injury
Why Athletes Stay Silent
Fear, intimidation, and coercion have kept athletes silent. Athlete abuse is something that is not talked about and often hidden for years by those that have been subject to it.
The pressing questions now are “Have the number of athletes mistreated/abused suddenly increased?” or “Has awareness about the mistreatment of athletes come to the point where administrators, parents, and athletes are beginning to fight back?”
Coaches need to be held accountable for their actions. The power given to a head coach does not give the individual the right to physically harm or injure any athlete in the name of “discipline.”
As national media attention increases on the subject of athlete abuse, coaches need to take a hard look at how they treat their athletes. Coaches need to reflect on their own actions because parents and administrators are now taking a closer look.
What to do if Athlete Abuse is Suspected
No athlete should be subjected to verbal or physical harm in the name of sports. If athlete abuse is suspected, the incident should be immediately and carefully documented. If physical injury has occurred, the athlete needs to seek treatment. If possible, pictures should also be taken as evidence.
The abuse needs to be immediately reported to an administrator overseeing the coach involved. If an athletic administrator is protecting the coach, then the abuse needs to be reported at a higher level.
Athletes need to be educated about the difference between physically demanding drills and drills that are designed to intentionally cause injury. Athletic staff and assistant coaches need to also have the courage to break their silence and protect the athletes.
Terry Zeigler - Educating through writing with over twenty-five years of experience as a Kinesiology Professor and Certified Athletic Trainer.
