After just three months of being hired as the new women’s volleyball coach at Grambling State, Chelsey Lucas was on the news. Lucas had graduated from Grambling State herself in 2007 and was a star on the volleyball team. So, when she was hired to be the coach, she was a familiar face. However, by April she had cut all 19 players on the team, making everyone upset. So, the school started an internal investigation on her.
Last season, Grambling State’s women’s volleyball team went 11-17 under coach Demetria Kays-Johnson, who then stepped down for another position at the school. Lucas was then hired after going 18-15 at a different school. According to reports, Lucas’s relationship with the school was already tense.
Last season, when she was on the different school’s volleyball team, they lost to Grambling State. Grambling State called out their signature chant, which at the end uses the B-word. It wasn’t personal, as it’s used at the end of their chants commonly in other sports at Grambling as well. However, Lucas took it personally.
At the first practice session, Lucas reportedly told the team “I bet you didn’t expect to see me again. I bet y’all will think twice about who y’all call a b—-.” Reportedly, the rest of the practice sessions all consisted of very few volleyball practices and more punishment-related running.
Then, on April 4th she called in all the team members and essentially cut them, by telling them their scholarships and spots would not be renewed. After these meetings, the players started a change.org petition calling for Lucas’s removal from the position and the reinstatement of the player’s positions. When asked by reporters, Lucas claims these removals were unprejudiced and even had the school’s administration suggest their removals.
Last season, Grambling State’s women’s volleyball team went 11-17 under coach Demetria Kays-Johnson, who then stepped down for another position at the school. Lucas was then hired after going 18-15 at a different school. According to reports, Lucas’s relationship with the school was already tense.
Last season, when she was on the different school’s volleyball team, they lost to Grambling State. Grambling State called out their signature chant, which at the end uses the B-word. It wasn’t personal, as it’s used at the end of their chants commonly in other sports at Grambling as well. However, Lucas took it personally.
At the first practice session, Lucas reportedly told the team “I bet you didn’t expect to see me again. I bet y’all will think twice about who y’all call a b—-.” Reportedly, the rest of the practice sessions all consisted of very few volleyball practices and more punishment-related running.
Then, on April 4th she called in all the team members and essentially cut them, by telling them their scholarships and spots would not be renewed. After these meetings, the players started a change.org petition calling for Lucas’s removal from the position and the reinstatement of the player’s positions. When asked by reporters, Lucas claims these removals were unprejudiced and even had the school’s administration suggest their removals.
