College Kentucky Cheer Dismisses 4 Coaches Following Hazing Investigation

[oncecoolcoachnowmom]

Four UK cheerleading coaches fired after hazing investigation, other inappropriate conduct surfaces



Four cheerleading coaches with the University of Kentucky have been dismissed from their duties with the program after a three-month investigation found they failed to provide reasonable oversight during off-campus events.

Head Coach Jomo Thompson and Assistant Coaches Ben Head, Spencer Clan and Kelsey LaCroix are no longer with the program. The university says they did not take action after inappropriate conduct by members of the cheerleading squad took place at off-campus events, including hazing activities, alcohol use and public nudity.

 

[ACEDAD]

This will be interesting.

 

[oncecoolcoachnowmom]

A bit of a clarification:

4 were dismissed (Spencer, Ben, Kelsey, Jomo.)

T. Lynn was given the option to retire and took it.

 

[oncecoolcoachnowmom]

Also I wondered why I hadn't seen anything definitive yet re: tryouts (virtual or otherwise) when other programs were advertising/posting, and this is probably why.

 

[retiredl5cheer]

Oh boy.

 

[ACEDAD]

A bit of a clarification:

3 were dismissed (Spencer, Kelsey, Jomo.)

T. Lynn was given the option to retire and took it.

Ben Head was fired too according to the article I saw.

 

[luv2cheer92]

Oh wow.

 

[GreatWhite92]

The report is crazy to read. I mean some of it is just college kids being college kids but a lot of it surrounded a retreat where topless basket tosses were apparently all the rage. Debbie love is even mentioned in the report...


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[icequeen]

Wow!!!! I can't remember the last time UK had a head coach change since Jomo took over after Saleem left in 2002/03.

 

[oncecoolcoachnowmom]

Link to the actual report if you are interested:


Reports and Other Materials | Public Relations & Marketing

 

[ufomom]

This will be interesting.

It's so interesting, I logged on to see how interesting.

 

[mariahnicole1216]

I cannot be the only who thinks this sounds exactly like every college cheer team, or college sport, or club, or Greek house... I haven’t read the entire report but wow this doesn’t sound that far off from something my college team would’ve done and my coaches had no idea. I don’t think it’s fair to go after coaches.

 

[UCFKnights07]

college kids being college kids is all i really took from this. I get college athletes are held to a higher standard, but the only foul play i see here is the coaches who stood around watching it.

 

[retiredl5cheer]

I cannot be the only who thinks this sounds exactly like every college cheer team, or college sport, or club, or Greek house... I haven’t read the entire report but wow this doesn’t sound that far off from something my college team would’ve done and my coaches had no idea. I don’t think it’s fair to go after coaches.

The problem is that it sounds like this all happened at a team-sponsored function. Yes, my team drank and participated in general college shenanigans, but not at camp or team-sponsored bonding events.

 

[oncecoolcoachnowmom]

It stresses me out to see grown folks defending this behavior as "kids being kids."

Sidenote: This is often why hiring younger alumnae cheerleaders to a coaching role isn't always the best option. See also: always hiring program grads and never switching it up. Problematic behavior tends to persist. Programs need at least one person who isn't from there, hasn't cheered there, etc. to put fresh eyes on things and interject "Um hey y'all wtf this is a bad idea as a high profile program." (Not that people always listen but still.)