Investigative Report

INVESTIGATIVE REPORT UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM July 31, 2015 Prepared by Pugh, Jones & Johnson, P.C. under the Direction of the Office of University Counsel TABLE OF CONTENTS I. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................ 3 II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................... 4 III. INVESTIGATION APPROACH ...................................................................................... 7 A. Pugh, Jones & Johnson Team ......................................................................................... 7 B. Scope of Our Investigation .............................................................................................. 7 C. Steps Taken in the Initial ODEA and AHR Joint Investigation ................................... 9 1. Interviews ..................................................................................................................... 9 2. Summary of the ODEA’s Letter ................................................................................... 9 D. Pugh, Jones & Johnson Investigation .......................................................................... 10 1. Documents and Videos Reviewed and Other Information Gathered ....................... 10 2. Witness Interviews and Statements .......................................................................... 10 IV. BACKGROUND ............................................................................................................. 13 A. University of Illinois Women’s Basketball Program: Reporting Structure ................ 13 1. Director of Athletics Mike Thomas ............................................................................ 14 2. Senior Associate Director of Athletics, Maria Ochoa-Woods .................................... 14 3. Head Coach Matt Bollant .......................................................................................... 14 4. Former Associate Head Coach Mike Divilbiss .......................................................... 15 5. Associate Head Coach LaKale Malone ...................................................................... 15 6. Assistant Coach Tianna Kirkland ............................................................................ 16 B. History of Women’s Basketball Program ..................................................................... 16 C. Performance of the Team under Coach Jolette Law .................................................... 16 D. Hire of Coach Bollant .................................................................................................... 16 E. Hire of Remaining Coaches ........................................................................................... 18 1. Selection of Coach Divilbiss ....................................................................................... 18 2. The Selection of the Remaining Coaching Staff ....................................................... 19 F. Program under Coach Bollant (2012-Present) ............................................................. 19 1. Academic and Athletic Performance ......................................................................... 20 2. Recruiting ................................................................................................................... 21 3. Transfers .................................................................................................................... 23 4. Changes in the Racial Composition of the Team ...................................................... 23 5. Playing Time .............................................................................................................. 24 6. Style of Play ................................................................................................................ 27 V. RELEVANT COMPLIANCE STRUCTURE: CONDUCT EXPECTED OF COACHES, AND AVENUES FOR STUDENT-ATHLETES TO RAISE CONCERNS ABOUT ABUSE AND RACISM ............................................................................................................................ 28 A. Industry Void, and the University’s Solution .............................................................. 28 B. The University’s Draft Formalized Standards, Its Performance Expectations, and the Responsibilities of Coaches ............................................................................................. 29 C. The University’s Code of Conduct for Employees ........................................................ 31 D. Prohibition of Harassment and Discrimination ........................................................... 31 VI. CHRONOLOGY ............................................................................................................. 32 1 VII. FINDINGS ..................................................................................................................... 38 A. Overview of the Coaching Environment: Abusive Coaching? ..................................... 38 1. Assessment of the Individuals and Issues: Coach Bollant ....................................... 38 a. No Finding of Abusive Coaching ........................................................................... 38 b. No Finding of Racial Discrimination .................................................................... 39 c. The Team’s Condition When Bollant Arrived ...................................................... 39 d. Complaints ............................................................................................................. 40 2. Assessment of the Individuals and Issues: Coach Divilbiss ..................................... 43 a. No Finding of Abusive Coaching, but “Needs Improvement” in the Methods Used to Address Players ................................................................................................ 44 b. Use of Personal Information, ................................................ 45 c. Comments Singling Out Players for Poor Performance ...................................... 46 d. Tone and Demeanor: Doing a Better Job of Reading Players ............................. 47 e. Racial Comments about Opposing Teams and Style of Play ............................... 48 B. Assessment of the Individuals and Issues: Coaches Malone and Kirkland ............... 51 1. No Finding of Abusive Coaching ............................................................................... 51 2. No Findings of Racial Discrimination ...................................................................... 51 C. Other Persons Involved in the Investigation: Tone from the Top ............................... 52 1. Mike Thomas .............................................................................................................. 52 2. Maria Ochoa Woods ................................................................................................... 54 D. Parental Influence and Relationships .......................................................................... 56 VIII. RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................................................ 60 2 I. INTRODUCTION Recently, several complaints from current and former student-athletes in the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Women’s Basketball Program and their parents have arisen regarding abusive coaching, racism, and the management of student-athlete injuries. This Report analyzes all those complaints, and the evidence, with the exception of the management of student-athlete injuries. The complaints primarily focus on the actions of Coaches Matt Bollant and John “Mike” Divilbiss. Those two coaches acknowledged that the tone of their coaching at times was too negative, especially when the team did not succeed. However, the evidence shows their actions did not constitute racial discrimination or harassment. The Women’s Basketball Program has no doubt faced its share of challenges over the last several years, including consecutive seasons with a losing record, which has greatly contributed to discord and dissatisfaction. The University’s standards seek to prohibit coaching abuse and racism, and based on the evidence, it did not depart from those standards here. This Report sets forth several recommendations. Foremost among them, it recommends that the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics (“DIA”) formally implement its draft standards that outline its expectations for its coaches’ conduct, and offer specific examples and training on the types of coaching conduct that the University finds appropriate and inappropriate. In addition, this Report recommends that the University include as part of its compliance training of its student-athletes instruction about the importance of raising complaints about abuse and discrimination when they occur or are perceived to have occurred. This Report also recommends that the University adopt a policy to address relationships between coaches and parents, or others who act on behalf of players, to alleviate misunderstandings and unmet expectations. Effective implementation of these recommendations will help all coaches and DIA staff meet the University’s expectations, and will help the University address the root cause of problems before they become worse. To that end, the University has already implemented some reforms, and is well on its way to making other needed improvements. 3 II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Over a six week period, we interviewed thirty-three

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