Texas Tech softball coach created a 'toxic' atmosphere, issued performance contracts for weight loss and oversaw three baptisms, reveals internal review after her resignation
An internal review of the Texas Tech softball program in the wake of coach Adrian Gregory's resignation has revealed allegations of player abuse and racial insensitivity as well as religious freedom issues and even baptisms.
'The head coach was described as a mentor and having an overall positive impact on the student-athletes’ lives, during and after college,' read a report from the internal probe. 'Others gave a far more negative review and used terms such as toxic, negative, and one in which the head coach had favorites and was controlling, including when they traveled home and who they lived with.'
The school released its report Wednesday following interviews with 29 unidentified people between August 20 and September 21. Gregory resigned on September 22, saying only that it was 'best to part ways' amid a USA Today report that the program was the subject of school inquiry into the well-being of its players, three of whom were allegedly grabbed by their Coach.
An internal review of the Texas Tech softball program in the wake of coach Adrian Gregory's resignation has revealed allegations of player abuse and racial insensitivity as well as religious freedom issues and even baptisms
In total, there were three reported baptisms at the team facility involving two players and associate head coach Sam Marder, the latter of whom is Jewish.
One player, Trenity Edwards, provided video of her baptism to USA Today.
'What brought me to Christ, honestly, was this team and Coach G,' Edwards said in the video, referring to Gregory.
The baptism was performed by Brandi Cantrell, a Fellowship of Christian Athletes volunteer chaplain, according to USA Today. However, Gregory was reportedly present.
Yvonne Whaley, a junior on the Red Raiders, is also said to have been baptized.
One religious freedom issue detailed in the Texas Tech report dealt with the team's faith-based activities, which were 'not communicated definitively as being voluntary.'
The report also mentioned issues with racial insensitivity.
'One incident involved two student-athletes, one white and the other black,' the report explained. 'As told by most of those interviewed, the incident took place while student-athletes were waiting to take batting practice. The black student-athlete was told by a coach to move ahead in the line so she could go work on a different skill after hitting. The white student-athlete then made a comment to the black student-athlete telling her, "Get to the back of the line Rosa [Parks]."
'Some of those interviewed thought the comments made by the White student-athlete were meant jokingly and were out of character, but all believed the comment was completely inappropriate.'
Associate coach Leticia Olivarez (right), told Texas Tech officials Gregory (left) grabbed her arm so hard during the 2019 season that it left bruises. Gregory denied that accusation in the Texas Tech internal review report
Texas Tech runner Trenity Edwards (44) celebrates her home run against Baylor with her teammates during an NCAA softball game on Friday, April 12, 2019 in Waco. Edwards, along with one teammate and assistant coach, was reportedly baptized at the team's facility
Despite the reaction to the comment, Gregory, who was not present at the time of the incident, declined to discuss the issue with the team.
The three 'grabbing' allegations had previously been reported by USA Today, but were also investigated by Texas Tech.
'During a game in New Orleans, another student-athlete reported being lifted by the shoulders and moved to the point that she almost fell,' read the Texas Tech report. 'There was no other corroboration to this report and the head coach denied the incident.'
Edwards and Brooke Blackwell, who were members of the 2019 Red Raiders team, previously 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
Both Trenity Edwards (left) and Yvonne Whaley (right) were reportedly baptized
Gregory denied that accusation in the Texas Tech internal review report.
'I have never physically grabbed a student-athlete or coach in any way that would cause harm or injury to them,' she said. 'I would never cross that line. As a coach, the safety and trust of my student-athletes are my utmost priorities.'
There were also concerns about Gregory's practice of issuing performance contracts related to players' weight loss and overall conditioning.
'Late in the review process it was learned that two student-athletes were subject to performance contracts in March 2018 which were specifically aimed at weight loss with a goal of losing one pound per week,' read the report.
'If the goal was not met, an extra 30 minutes of conditioning each morning, while wearing a heart rate monitor, would be required in the designated week. Of that 30 minutes, 20 minutes were to be at 80% of maximum heart rate or higher while 10 minutes could be 70 to 80% range of maximum heart rate.
'The events surrounding this contract are unclear to the review team, but were quite concerning. One student-athlete reported she was sent a text by the head coach to meet and at the meeting she was "blindsided and forced" to sign the contract, and failing to do so would lead to her no longer being on the team.'
