Texas Tech Softball Coach Resigns Amid Report Of Review Into Well-Being Of Players
LUBBOCK, Texas (CBSDFW.COM/AP) — Texas Tech softball coach Adrian Gregory resigned Tuesday, saying only that it was "best to part ways" amid a report that the program is the subject of school inquiry into the well-being of its players.
Athletic director Kirby Hocutt announced the move without explanation. Gregory had just completed her sixth season at Texas Tech.
"At this time, I have found it best to part ways with Texas Tech University and its softball program," Gregory said in a statement provided by the university. "I have truly loved Lubbock and the relationships I have built here. I wish the current players and staff all the best as they move forward with future seasons."
According to USA Today, Texas Tech is conducting an internal review "to assess the overall culture and student-athlete well-being" within the softball program, focusing in part on allegations that Gregory grabbed three players.
Trenity Edwards and Brooke Blackwell, who were members of the 2019 Red Raiders team, told USA Today they saw Gregory grab a player last season and a former assistant coach, Leticia Olivarez, told school officials Gregory grabbed her arm so hard during the 2019 season that it left bruises
"I can unequivocally say that I have never physically grabbed a student-athlete or coach in any way that would cause physical harm or injury to them. I have not, and will not, cross that line," Gregory told the athletic department, according to USA Today.
Gregory was named the head coach in June 2014 and led the team to above .500 records since 2018. The team was 17-9 this year before the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In early August, Texas Tech fired women's basketball coach Marlene Stollings after a scathing report alleging a culture of abuse in her program. Players made claims of abuse over the past two years in season-ending exit interviews that were obtained through an open records request by The Intercollegiate, an investigative media outlet for college sports.
The details were published by USA Today. Over her two years in charge, 12 of 21 players left the program, including seven recruited under Stollings, according to the report.
A law firm, Holland & Knight, is also conducting an overall review of the athletic department.
(© Copyright 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)