Posted on April 19, 2019

UNC Women’s Basketball Coach Sylvia Hatchell Resigns Following Internal Review

Johnny Flores Jr., Yahoo Sports, April 19, 2019

University of North Carolina’s women’s basketball coach Sylvia Hatchell has resigned following an internal review that determined “the program needed to be taken in a new direction.”

“The University commissioned a review of our women’s basketball program, which found issues that led us to conclude that the program needed to be taken in a new direction,” read athletic director Bubba Cunningham’s statement. “It is in the best interests of our University and student-athletes for us to do so.”

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She was accused of pressuring players to play through injuries as well as using racially insensitive language.

The review conducted by Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein found that:

  • Hatchell made comments that were racially insensitive, and when confronted by players and staff did not respond in a timely or appropriate manner. The review concluded that Hatchell is not viewed as a racist, but her comments and subsequent response caused many in the program to believe she lacked awareness and appreciation for the effect her remarks had on those who heard them.
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At the time of Hatchell’s leave of absence, an in-depth report by the Washington Post detailed the comments made by Hatchell through anonymous interviews with six parents of student-athletes.

In one instance, Hatchell made reference to a “noose” after a 85-63 win over Howard, a historically black university. “When you go to Louisville, if you perform like you did tonight, they’re going to have nooses outside the arena, and they’re going to hang you by your necks from trees,” one parent told The Post of Hatchell’s alleged statement.

A differing account had Hatchell saying, “We’re going up to Louisville, those people are going to be waiting with nooses to hang you from trees.”

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