SAN LEANDRO, Calif. (KCBS RADIO) – Despite repeated reports, athletes and some parents claim they were stonewalled by those in charge following public allegations of bullying and abuse levied against a celebrated Cal women's swimming coach.
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The accusations date back years, as first reported by the Orange County Register. This summer, USF is set to go to court over similar accusations made against its women's basketball head coach.
As the nature of coaching evolves, whose job is it to make sure coaches don't step over the line?
"Whether from the #MeToo movement or the social and justice after George Floyd’s murder, when you see the groundswell of people being able to speak up, administrators, organizational leaders they need to start paying more attention to it," Jason Sacks, president of the national nonprofit group Positive Coaching Alliance founded in the Bay Area, told KCBS Radio.
Sacks said his organization would never tolerate an abusive teacher.
"Turn it into a corporate setting – a manager and one of their employees – that's just unacceptable and we wouldn't allow it, but for some reason we allow it to happen in sports," Sacks explained. "The fact that we're shifting what's acceptable I think is a good thing."
However, the olden model of strict authoritarian coaching doesn't change overnight.
"Every athletic director and every organizational leader is probably taking a look right now and saying 'What are we doing at our university to make sure that we're setting guidelines for our coaches and we're making sure that we're holding them accountable. How are we evaluating coaches?'," Sacks said. "It's tricky at the big time college athletics level. I'm not going to be naïve and say that money and wins doesn't have anything to do with it."
Dr. Jessica Chin studies sports and hazing at San Jose State. "Look at all of the people who succeeded and were able to endure it and now it's your turn because this is your way to prove that you're part of the team, to prove that you belong. But these are all ways to set people up for controlling them," she explained. "There really does need to be a closer look at team culture and leadership styles and a safe way for athletes to talk about this."
Also, to know it's okay to speak out. "Athletes, we have a voice and I think that's very important for people to know," Arizona State water polo player Molly Ostrowski added.
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