Grambling State University has announced it will be conducting an independent review of its volleyball program following backlash received after new coach Chelsey Lucas cut all scholarship players from the team.
As reported by the News-Star of Monroe, La., the investigation will be conducted by the law office of Lewis, Brisbois, Bisgaard & Smith LLP, a firm known for its work with corporate and institutional clients. All of the findings and the final report are to be presented to school president Rick Gallot. Findings will be shared publicly, according to the athletic department's Twitter account.
Lucas, who was hired in February to replace Demetria Keys-Johnson, came to the Tigers after spending three seasons at Arkansas Pine-Bluff. Players told the News-Star last month she spent very little time with her players and ultimately decided to cut them and take away their scholarships on April 4, after just three practices.
Related: New Grambling State Volleyball Coach Cuts Entire Team
"I met with my team, each student-athlete, individually to discuss my plans moving forward with the Grambling State University volleyball program. My decision was to not to bring back some of the current student-athletes on the team," Lucas said previously in a statement provided to the News-Star. "While student-athletes are granted athletic scholarships, a scholarship is not guaranteed and not binding, per NCAA rules and regulations."
While she's received support from athletic director Trayveon Scott and Gallot, the decision outraged the cut players and their parents.
Related: Grambling State AD, Parents React to New Coach's Actions
A petition started to have the players' scholarships reinstated — as well as to remove Lucas, Scott and others from their positions in the athletic department — has received more than 2,500 signatures in about four weeks, the News-Star reported.
