Stephen F. Austin State University has fired controversial women's soccer coach Tony Minatta on the heels of a 1-11-1 start and months removed from allegations he emotionally abused his players.
As reported by USA TODAY, the school announced the decision to dismiss Minatta on Tuesday, but did not say it had anything to do with the allegations reported by the news source in March.
Minatta was in his fourth year at the school in Nacogdoches, Texas. He posted an overall record of 27-33-6 and led SFA to a Southland Conference title in 2020, when the team finished 10-6-3. His team also won a division title in the Western Athletic Conference in 2021.
"We very much appreciate the effort and energy that Tony Minatta put into the SFA soccer program," SFA athletic director Ryan Ivey said Tuesday in a in statement, as reported by Brent Schrotenboer of USA TODAY. "Tony was able to accomplish many positive things for our soccer program, including two championships in 2020 and 2021 seasons. Unfortunately, we have not made the continued progress needed and I believe we need a change in coaching leadership for the long-term sustainability of the program.”
Ivey and the university stood by Minatta even after former players came forward to accuse him of demeaning treatment, particularly at his previous job at Iowa State, where his record in six years was 33-71-6. ISU players complained about Minatta's treatment of them before the school announced it was parting ways with him in 2019.
SFA previously commissioned two investigations to look into his conduct and found no wrongdoing by Minatta, Schrotenboer reported. At the same time, the school confirmed the investigations did not look into the allegations at Iowa State. The only women's soccer players interviewed for those investigations were from Minatta's first SFA team in 2020-21. In early 2021, a report by one of the law firms that investigated the matter said players “nearly unanimously described positive feedback with respect to the coaching staff’s ability to support and motivate the players.”
Minatta's contract at SFA ran through the 2025 season. According to Schrotenboer, it says that if the university fires him “without cause” prior to the completion of the 2023 season, SFA shall pay him $40,000. The contract also says he has a duty to mitigate his damages by seeking other employment and using pay from that to offset SFA’s financial obligations to him.
Ivey said in his statement assistant coach Chance Chapman will serve as interim coach while SFA conducts a national search for Minatta's replacement.
