TW // eating disorders, body shaming, racism, xenophobia, suicidal ideations
For years, the athletes under the leadership of the head coach of UAB Cross Country, have been mentally, emotionally, and verbally abused. He is racist, manipulative, xenophobic, sexist, and abusive.
He has made comments about a predominantly African team in Conference USA such as, "they don't have birth certificates", "they shouldn't be allowed to compete because we don't know how old they are", "they all look the same", "I hate that team", "it's unfair that they are allowed to compete". And the black athletes on his own team have been subject to unfair treatment, discrimination, humiliation and uneccesary remarks.
He has pressured his athletes to run on injuries and exiled them from the team when they physically could not continue or decided to not compete. Injured athletes are still athletes and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. He failed to do this on many occasions. Instead of modifying workouts, he insensitively made comments about the weight of the athletes. Cross country is a sport where eating disorders and body dysmorphia are prevalent, his abusive words are UNACCEPTABLE. At the previous university he worked for, Bradley, several women suffered eating disorders under his leadership, so the mistreatment is not unique to UAB.
He does not know how to speak to women, ESPECIALLY women with a prior and/or known history of mental health issues. Many mental health issues were exacerbated by his treatment and so many girls have medically DQd, transferred, quit, or have been forced to suffer in silence....some even had thoughts to end their lives.
There needs to be change. This cannot continue. THIS IS NOT OKAY. He needs to face consequences. And he needs to face them now. There are so many loving and deserving individuals who would love to coach a D1 collegiate team. Why protect a man who has subjected so many vulnerable women to his kind of behavior?
Adminstration knows and has swept it under the rug. Now we are bringing it public. Please spread the word, offer your support, and sign this petition to enact CHANGE!
