Syracuse University confirmed this week that two athletics administrators are no longer employed by the school, as it continues the investigation that led to the resignation of head women’s basketball coach Quentin Hillsman.
In June, Syracuse hired an outside firm to examine allegations that Hillsman bullied players. His departure was made public earlier this week.
Syracuse University confirmed this week that two athletics administrators are no longer employed by the school, as it continues the investigation that led to the resignation of head women’s basketball coach Quentin Hillsman.
In June, Syracuse hired an outside firm to examine allegations that Hillsman bullied players. His departure was made public earlier this week.
Related: Syracuse Women's Coach Out Amid Misconduct Claims
Within days, a Syracuse spokesperson confirmed that deputy athletics director/senior woman administrator Kimberly Keenan-Kirkpatrick and director of program management and cevelopment Cedric Solice are no longer employed by the university, as reported by syracuse.com. Syracuse senior associate vice president for communications Sarah Scalese cited university policy in declining to say whether the two individuals were fired, resigned or had their contracts expire.
Syracuse had 11 players transfer after last season and has experienced one of the highest transfer rates in the country over the past three years.
According to syracuse.com, an anonymous former player described Keenan-Kirkpatrick as missing an interview in which she hoped to complain about the program's culture and appearing unconcerned about athlete complaints. Another anonymous individual described Keenan-Kirkpatrick, who is tasked with oversight of the school’s women’s teams and often travels with them, watching Hillsman berate the team after a loss and appearing unconcerned.
Solice has held a variety of roles with the women’s program since joining it as a graduate manager in 2006, including assistant strength and conditioning coach, syracuse.com reported.
Word of the departures of Keenan-Kirkpatrick and Solice came on the same day that Syracuse named Vonn Read acting head coach and a day removed from the university announcing Hillsman's resignation and confirming the departure of Ronnie Enoch, the director of recruiting and athlete performance for the women's basketball program.
Both Hillsman and Enoch were accused of inappropriate behavior in an initial article on the volatility of the Syracuse women's program published by The Athletic. Enoch had faced similar accusations at a previous school. Keenan-Kirkpatrick was named in a follow-up article by The Athletic, while its coverage made no mention of Solice, according to syracuse.com.
Hillsman amassed a 319-169 in 15 seasons at Syracuse.
