University of Idaho women’s volleyball coach Chris Gonzalez speaks to his players during a game. (Provided to SCNG)
Idaho women’s volleyball head coach Chris Gonzalez regularly physically, verbally and emotionally abused his players, and athletic director Terry Gawlik ignored or failed to respond to these allegations. Lawyers investigating the allegations are scheduled to complete final interviews by Friday, according to an email obtained by the news agency. Southern California News Group.
According to an email to “We have carefully reviewed the information provided by.” Idaho players Holly G. McIntas, one of the attorneys conducting the investigation.
McIntosh said in an email that attorneys have at least four more meetings scheduled and are “still awaiting responses from several other potential witnesses.” Thompson & Horton plans to conduct follow-up interviews with individuals who made specific complaints this week, according to interviews and emails with current and former Idaho players. McIntash asked at least four current players this week for two- to three-hour follow-up interviews, according to interviews and emails.
“We hope to complete the fact-gathering portion of the investigation next week and then begin preparing the report,” McIntosh said in an email.
Former and current players said they have not been told by lawyers or university officials when the investigation report will be completed or whether it will be shared.
According to Thompson & Horton’s website, McIntash “regularly assists clients in developing legally compliant civil rights policies and procedures and conducts investigations and hearings based on those policies.” “We provide advice and defend any complaints filed with the Office of Civil Rights.” or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. ”
Jackie Galapour Verns, another partner at Thompson & Horton, is interim director of the university’s Office of Civil Rights Investigations.
Mr. McIntosh did not respond to requests for comment. Gonzalez and university spokespeople also did not respond to requests for comment.
Gonzalez, a Southern California native and former U.S. national team coach, continues to practice during spring training under the supervision of staff from the Dean of Students’ Office. Of the 12 players on the Vandals’ spring roster, only five practice with Gonzalez, and all of them are foreigners. All six U.S.-based players withdrew from practice, citing concerns for their physical safety and mental health as a result of their interactions with Gonzalez. The 12th Turkish player was unable to practice due to injury.
Thompson & Houghton’s investigation was prompted by the 9,000-word SCNG report released on December 30th. In the report, current and former players and university officials allege that Gonzalez routinely bullied and abused players during his two seasons at the Big Sky Conference school, and that Gawlik As of October 2022, concerns of players, parents and employees have been ignored or dismissed.
This article, Gawlik, and the university’s response to it were shared by Idaho State players, past and present players, alumni, and the student organization from which University of Idaho President C. Scott Green fired Gawlik, Gonzalez-Gawlik and university relations. There are growing protests among the people. Initial responses to SCNG’s initial report portrayed the dispute as being based on complaints made during the 2023 season and that Idaho players had asked the university to refrain from any investigation until after that season. Was.
But documents and interviews show that even if Gawlik took action, it would have no effect on a series of detailed complaints made by players and parents, both in writing and in person, against Gonzalez between October and December 2022. It is clear that he did not take any appropriate action. 13 current and former players accused of physical, verbal and emotional abuse, body shaming and pressuring players to play and practice for another year with injured players and inappropriate contact People, nine parents, and three university employees made the allegations in interviews and emails with university officials.
Among the 2022 complaints against Gawlik are that Gonzalez physically, mentally and verbally abused his players, withheld their food, routinely body shamed them, and subjected them to inappropriate touching and comments. It included emails, memos, letters, and direct statements in which he allegedly ignored instructions from the association. According to interviews and documents obtained by SCNG, the school’s sports medicine staff alleged that players stopped playing or practicing because of their injuries and that they made racially insensitive comments toward Black players.
Gawlik’s contract expires on July 21, and several players, university officials and notable alumni have expressed concern that the university will allow her to retire at the end of the school year, rather than being fired. I’m guessing. Gawlik did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
“This is a cry for help.” Players claim they were regularly bullied by Idaho women’s volleyball coach Chris Gonzalez.
