Former college basketball player accuses coach of abuse

Ashley Cooper, 20, was a basketball player at Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, where she received a full athletic scholarship. Just this week, Cooper filed a lawsuit in a New York court, saying that her coach, Bill Gibbons, was “verbally, emotionally and physically abusive.” Cooper says that Gibbons would yank her collar, squeeze her neck and hit her back. The complaint even said that during one 2012 basketball game, players on the opposing team said: “Your coach is crazy.” In 2011, a psychologist spoke to the basketball team about team chemistry, but revealed that the only issues were because of Gibbons’ abuse.

The complaint also claims that school officials were aware of Gibbons’ abuse, but did nothing to stop it. Elizabeth Eilender, Cooper’s attorney, said: “Ashley was told, ‘stop complaining’. Eventually we realized nothing would happen and took the next step.” Cooper also said that none of the other student athletes reveal Gibbons’s actions for fear of risking their financial support.  “Everyone is on scholarships,” Eilender said. “They’re not going to say anything.”

On Wednesday, Coach Gibbons announced that her would “step back” from his duties while the college conducts an investigation.