MVSU Softball Players: Coach Cruelty Led To Depression

Former Mississippi Valley State University softball players say that they faced cruel treatment from their coaches.

WJTV, a CBS affiliate in Jackson, Miss., reported that Allyssa Montes, who pitched at MVSU from 2017 until 2019, posted on social media that head coach Lee Smith and assistant coach Brittany Tillery “did everything they did to us simply because they gain satisfaction from being cruel to us.”

According to WJTV, Montes said she thought about suicide, while former catcher Lacy Wilburn said she quit the team as a junior because the environment caused her to be depressed.

The players said they have spoken up internally before, but are now doing so publicly to prevent current players from going through the same things.

“They have an open investigation going right now to see what’s really going on, so we’re not making a comment right now at this time,” MVSU coordinator of athletic media and public relations Demetrius Howse told WJTV.

Smith, who is also an associate athletic director, has coached the MVSU softball team since 2002. MVSU went 4-21 in 2021, including 3-12 in Southwestern Athletic Conference play.

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