A women’s basketball player at Northern Kentucky University has alleged that head coach Camryn Whitaker has been emotionally and verbally abusive to members of the team.
In an editorial published by The Odyssey Online, senior guard Taryn Taugher alleges that Whitaker would spout verbal attacks targeting players’ work-ethic, family, personality and even their bodies. Taugher writes that the abuse crossed the line beyond ‘yelling’ into degrading, and that Whitaker’s tactics included intimidation, humiliation and isolation.
“Many players have felt powerless while under Coach Whitaker,” she writes. “Complaints have fallen on deaf ears when multiple players have approached the athletic director about the coach’s behavior. A few have even met with the school’s Title IX director after meeting with the athletic director produced no results. Nothing changed in the coach’s behavior, so everything seemed to be swept under the rug to protect the coach and the university.”
Cincinnati Public Radio station WVXU reports that NKU is aware of the complaints, and provided a statement which reads in part:
“There are ongoing efforts to improve communications and relationships between the program’s leadership and student-athletes. We are committed to fostering a safe, healthy and inclusive learning environment for anyone who is a part of our campus community.
“Our students’ voices will be heard and the Athletics office will continue to monitor and assess our programs, taking appropriate corrective actions as needed.”
Whitaker was hired as the head coach at NKU in 2016. During that time, she has amassed a 29-62 record.
