Despite being fired Sunday, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame player Sheryl Swoopes hinted Tuesday that Loyola’s two-and-a-half month investigation into allegations of her misconduct viewed the women’s basketball coach favorably.
If it did, her former bosses aren’t talking.
Loyola athletic director Steve Watson’s three-sentence statement Sunday night — slipped into the news cycle during a holiday weekend — made no mention of the investigation. It didn’t use the word “fired,” either, saying she simply was “no longer serving” as coach.
Watson refused comment through a spokesperson Tuesday after doing the same Sunday. He’s yet to clarify whether Swoopes was fired for cause — the university conducted the investigation, not the athletic department — or even whether her assistants and staffers remain employed.
Swoopes, in her first statement since the firing, said Tuesday she was happy with the investigation, which Loyola conducted with the help of the Dykema law firm.
“It’s my hope that the student-athletes will be provided a full explanation of what has unfolded,” Swoopes said. “As students, they deserve truth and transparency. All I can say at this point is that I do feel vindicated.
“I was 100 percent pleased with what I thought clearly supported all I’ve ever tried to provide as a coach, an employee and the woman of character my mother has raised.”
Swoopes, who was not expecting the decision, said in the statement she had been looking forward to welcoming eight of the Ramblers’ 12 players on campus Tuesday.
“I’m disappointed that I won’t have the opportunity to be there on this Tuesday as ‘Coach Swoopes,’” she said.
Loyola announced the investigation April 15 after 10 of 12 returning players gave their intent to transfer following a 14-16 season. The year before, five players did the same after a 6-25 year.
Former players and managers told the Sun-Times they experienced psychological mistreatment by Swoopes and her staff. Former player Cate Soane said she was “humiliated” and “belittled” by coaches, making her “subject to a lot of inappropriate conduct” before she transferred after the 2013-14 season. The NCAA denied her request to waive the mandatory one-year redshirt for transferring on those grounds.
The former WNBA great went 31-62 at Loyola, which hired her three years ago despite a coaching resume that featured only an assistant stint at Mercer Island (Wash.) High School.
The Ramblers are searching for her replacement at perhaps the worst possible time; an open recruiting period, critical for success, begins Wednesday.
