clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Connie Yori resigns from Nebraska amid investigation

Per reports, Connie Yori decides to resign from Nebraska.

Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports

Per reports, as announced by the Lincoln Journal Star, Nebraska head women's basketball coach, Connie Yori, has resigned after 14 years with the University. The resignation comes after a two-month long investigation by the Nebraska athletic department, regarding allegations against Yori for the mistreatment of players, and fostering a negative and dysfunctional culture.

Nebraska finished the 2015-16 season with an 18-13 record after losing in the first round of the Women's National Invitation Tournament.

An anonymous source told the Journal Star that over 10 players from the 2015-16 roster, as well as some support staff members, went to the Nebraska athletic department administrators early in February with concerns about player treatment.

That sparked the extensive investigation by the athletic department as well as immediately addressing the concerns of the student-athletes and support staff.

Nebraska Athletic Director, Shawn Eichhorst, told the Journal Star, "Our primary mission, vision and goal at the University of Nebraska and all of our coaches is and always has been to provide our student-athletes with the resources and positive support they need to have an exceptional experience and be successful in academics, athletics, and life.

"The health, safety and well-being of our student-athletes and staff is our top priority, and we will continue to do our part to ensure just that."

Yori has denied all allegations and said she wasn't aware of any complaints against her. Additionally, a source told the Journal Star that the NCAA isn't investigating Yori or the Husker program and that there is no evidence of NCAA rules violations.

The former coach stated that the resignation wasn't an easy decision by any means and that she is thankful for the support from Nebraska and Husker Nation along the way.

"After fourteen years as the head coach of the women's basketball program, I have made the difficult decision to step down. As some of you may know, this has been a very challenging time for my family and in the best interest of all of us, this is the right decision. I want to thank the student-athletes, assistant coaches, staff and administrators, especially Shawn Eichorst, for his leadership and support during this difficult time in my life.

"Finally, thank you to the incredible Husker Nation for their passionate and unwavering support throughout my time in Lincoln. I will always be a proud Husker."

Yori was hired at NU on June 24, 2002, after serving as the head coach at her alma mater, Creighton, for the previous 10 seasons.  She only won eight games in her first season at Nebraska, but by her fifth year, Yori tallied the first of her seven 20-win seasons.

The best season in program history came in 2009-10, where Nebraska reached as high as No. 3 in the national polls and cruised to a Big 12 regular season championship with a 16-0 record.

Entering the NCAA Tournament that year at 30-1, the Huskers earned the school's first-ever No. 1 seed and ultimately advanced to the program's first NCAA Sweet 16.  After losing to No. 4 seed Kentucky in the Sweet Sixteen, the Huskers finished the season at 32-2, a 17-game improvement from the prior year, and Yori earned the 2010 national coach of the year honor.

Nebraska also reached the Sweet Sixteen in 2013, marking their second time accomplishing that feat under Yori.

This past season, the injury-laden Huskers tied for seventh place in the Big Ten Conference and lost to Rutgers in the first game of the Big Ten Tournament.  The loss in the first round of the WNIT at home to Northern Iowa marked five losses in six games to end the season.

Yori finished her 14-year tenure at Nebraska with a 280-166 record, which included two conference titles (out of three in program history) and seven NCAA Tournament appearances.