Illinois Basketball Coach Allegedly Considered Holding Separate Practices for Black Players

A women's basketball coach at the University of Illinois allegedly considered holding seperate practices for African-American Players.

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This story isn't a good look for anyone at the University of Illinois. The football program is already dealing with abuse allegations and now, so is the women's basketball team. The allegations are serious enough that assistant head coach Mike Divilbiss has already left the program and head coach Matt Bollant could be out next.

The University of Illinois was sent letters from players on the women's basketball team detailing instances of racism and neglect per the Daily Illini:


The letters highlighted that Bollant and Divilbiss threatened to pull players’ scholarships, attempted to create division in the team using racism and ignored or minimized injuries.


According to the families’ letters, Bollant and Divilbiss made repeated racist remarks in attempts to divide the team. Lydia Tuck described an interaction between Divilbiss and freshman Kennedy Cattenhead when Divilbiss told Cattenhead that he could tell she was thinking, “Oh, we’re going to beat those white girls,” in reference to an opponent.

“(Coaches) joked about, ‘Oh well, we are playing an all-black team now, they think they are going to run over us, but we are going to put the girls from the West side out on them,” Coleman said. “As coaches you are their protection, and they should not be subjected involved in anything like that

On Dec. 30, the family’s letter claimed Gleason hurt her big toe and the following day, after x-raying Taylor’s foot, team physician Dr. Robert Bane determined it was fractured. Gleason was “forced to play” at Penn State on Jan. 4 and four days later, team physician Amy MacDougall told Taylor her foot was broken.

There was even a time where the coaches considered having separate practices for the African-American players and that a former coach would refer to the mostly black players as "crabs" according to the Chicago Tribune:


The letters also noted that Bollant and Divilbiss created racial tension among players by derogatorily noting the race of Illini players and opponents and attributing racial stereotypes to each. The families allege black players mostly recruited by former coach Jolette Laws, who was fired by Thomas, at one point were called “crabs” by the current coaches.


One letter alleges that coaches considered having separate practices for African-American players.

The office of Public Affairs claims after a preliminary review that there was "no violation of applicable law or University policy." The release claims the University held more than 20 interviews with people who are currently with or formerly affiliated with the program. Although, four players have decided to transfer from the school, which says a lot more than the report does.

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[via Uproxx]

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