Despite only having been hired for three months, Grambling State’s new women’s volleyball coach, Chelsey Lucas, is already making headlines.
Lucas, a Grambling graduate herself, starred on the court for the Tigers in 2007, making her a familiar face to lead the program starting in February. Unfortunately, by April, she had garnered nothing but dislike and frustration from athletes, parents, and alumni after cutting all 19 players from the roster. The university’s administration initially supported Lucas’s actions, but on Tuesday, they announced her release and an ongoing investigation into her behavior.
The administration said that “The decision was made due to the determination of an internal investigation within the volleyball program.”
Lucas’s relationship with Grambling State players was tense from the beginning, according to multiple reports, which cited players who suspected that Lucas was bitter over multiple small incidents.
On April 4, Lucas reportedly held individual meetings in which she told 12 players that she would not renew their scholarships for the upcoming season. 7 walk-ons were told their spots also wouldn’t be renewed. Lucas also reportedly offered four former scholarship players the opportunity to remain on the team as walk-ons, but all four declined.
Lucas, who had not publicly spoken about the matter until after her dismissal, said she was ordered not to speak to the public about her situation. In an interview with 247 Sports, she disputed details surrounding the rumors against her. She said the school’s administration was not only aware of her roster decisions but that Trayvean Scott, the athletic director, suggested she “get rid of ’em all.”
Lucas claimed she met with only 14 players and that some were offered the chance to stay. Scott declined to comment through a university spokesperson. In its statement, the school called student-athletes a priority but said “any additional comments will be held until the conclusion of the investigation.”
“As we move forward in this transition and commence a national search for the next coach, all volleyball student athletes who received scholarships for the 2022-23 academic year will keep their scholarships and remain on the team,” Scott said in the statement. “Walk-ons will also continue to hold their roster spot.”
A petition to reinstate scholarships to Grambling’s players has accumulated more than 3,750 signatures.
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Lucas, a Grambling graduate herself, starred on the court for the Tigers in 2007, making her a familiar face to lead the program starting in February. Unfortunately, by April, she had garnered nothing but dislike and frustration from athletes, parents, and alumni after cutting all 19 players from the roster. The university’s administration initially supported Lucas’s actions, but on Tuesday, they announced her release and an ongoing investigation into her behavior.
The administration said that “The decision was made due to the determination of an internal investigation within the volleyball program.”
Lucas’s relationship with Grambling State players was tense from the beginning, according to multiple reports, which cited players who suspected that Lucas was bitter over multiple small incidents.
On April 4, Lucas reportedly held individual meetings in which she told 12 players that she would not renew their scholarships for the upcoming season. 7 walk-ons were told their spots also wouldn’t be renewed. Lucas also reportedly offered four former scholarship players the opportunity to remain on the team as walk-ons, but all four declined.
Lucas, who had not publicly spoken about the matter until after her dismissal, said she was ordered not to speak to the public about her situation. In an interview with 247 Sports, she disputed details surrounding the rumors against her. She said the school’s administration was not only aware of her roster decisions but that Trayvean Scott, the athletic director, suggested she “get rid of ’em all.”
Lucas claimed she met with only 14 players and that some were offered the chance to stay. Scott declined to comment through a university spokesperson. In its statement, the school called student-athletes a priority but said “any additional comments will be held until the conclusion of the investigation.”
“As we move forward in this transition and commence a national search for the next coach, all volleyball student athletes who received scholarships for the 2022-23 academic year will keep their scholarships and remain on the team,” Scott said in the statement. “Walk-ons will also continue to hold their roster spot.”
A petition to reinstate scholarships to Grambling’s players has accumulated more than 3,750 signatures.
Source article: https://s3.amazonaws.com/appforest_uf/f1658070605903x665797506476225200/Grambling%20State%20fires%20Chelsey%20Lucas%2C%20volleyball%20coach%20who%20cut%20entire%20team%20-%20The%20Washington%20Post.pdf
https://www.thenewsstar.com/
