Drexel University has placed its head softball coach and two assistants on administrative leave, pending the outcome of an investigation into what the school termed “troubling allegations of misconduct” in the treatment of players, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.
A letter from Drexel athletic director Eric Zillmer addressed to parents and families of softball players last week stated that once Drexel and its athletic department had become “aware of the gravity of these allegations, we immediately began to take action to address the situation and provide support to our student-athletes,” the Inquirer's Mike Jensen reported.
Carl Taylor has been Drexel's head coach since 2015. His assistants are Ray Hastings and Michelle Schlichtig-Hastings.
It was the second instance of alleged misconduct by a Division I softball coach in the past three weeks.
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While stopping short of specifying the allegations, Drexel stated the following Tuesday: “The school was recently made aware of allegations of mistreatment by members of the coaching staff that impacted the experience of student-athletes on its softball team. … The University seeks to foster a safe and healthy environment based on trust and respect and takes allegations of mistreatment of students and student-athletes very seriously. The University does not tolerate misconduct in any form that contradicts these values or violates University policy, and individuals found responsible for alleged misconduct will be subject to appropriate sanction.”
