Swish Appeal - Wichita State looking into allegations of mental abuseBasketball is basketball.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49391/swish-fave.png2015-05-05T16:47:00-04:00http://www.swishappeal.com/rss/stream/82535582015-05-05T16:47:00-04:002015-05-05T16:47:00-04:00Jody Adams to stay as head coach of Wichita State
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<figcaption>Matthew O'Haren-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Jody Adams will remain the head coach of Wichita State, according to multiple reports. Adams was being investigated for allegations of abuse. </p> <p></p>
<p>It's been a whirlwind of sorts for Wichita State head coach, Jody Adams, these past few weeks. One minute, she's a finalist for the Kansas vacancy, and in the very next breath, she's being accused of abuse by some players.</p>
<p>In light of said allegations, Wichita State decided to at first <a href="http://www.swishappeal.com/2015/4/23/8486223/update-wichita-state-looking-into-recent-transfers/in/8253558">"look into" the situation</a>, which was initiated by four players that planned to transfer this off-season. After a few days of delving into the situation, the Shockers launched a full investigation.</p>
<p>Last night a source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that it looked like Adams was going to keep her job. And multiple reports confirm, she will indeed remain as head coach.</p>
<p>Below is a joint statement from <a href="http://www.goshockers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=61195&SPID=2852&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=210072596&DB_OEM_ID=7500">Wichita State</a>:</p>
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<p>Following an internal review of the women’s basketball program, Coach Jody Adams and officials at Wichita State University renewed their commitment to ensuring positive experiences for student athletes in a successful program.</p>
<p>The internal review was initiated by university President John Bardo following reports from four players who said they left the program because of certain approaches taken by Adams.</p>
<p>During a two-hour meeting in Morrison Hall on Monday, May 4, Julie Scherz, faculty athletic representative, reported on findings from her interviews with 38 current and former members of the basketball team, coaching staff, team members, parents and others associated with the program. Alan L. Rupe, counsel for Jody Adams, reported on his interviews with the same individuals. It was agreed there were conflicting stories in the interviews.</p>
<p>The parties agreed to several new measures during the meeting, including the appointment of a consultant in sports psychology who may be able to help both the coaching staff and student athletes. Working with this consultant will help everyone identify their challenges, set goals, increase confidence, and cope with difficult times to ensure the continual improvement of the WSU’s women’s basketball team. Players will also have enhanced open lines of communication to the faculty athletic representative and the athletic director.</p>
<p>Athletic Director Eric Sexton said: "As the results of our review were discussed, Coach Adams showed that she has an understanding of the concerns about her coaching style, and she exhibited her willingness to work to constantly improve the women’s basketball program."</p>
<p>Adams said: "I love Wichita State, our fans and especially our players and their families. I’ve dedicated my life to building a successful program that not only wins basketball games, but prepares young women for the rest of their lives. I regret if my efforts to build winning teams were ever seen as disrespectful of any person. I’ll continue to look for ways that I can improve both my coaching style and technique to help us win games and improve the lives of our players every day."</p>
<p>Bardo said: "I acted out of concern for the welfare of our student athletes. Dr. Scherz found a strong difference of opinion among players; some whose complaints about Coach Adams were numerous and concerning; others who held Coach Adams in high regard. The agreement we reached with Coach Adams today is intended to promote a positive culture in the program for all players."</p>
Participants in the meeting in Morrison Hall were Adams and her representatives, Rupe and Jeremy Schrag, from Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith Attorneys; Bardo; Sexton; Ted Ayres, vice president and general counsel; Darron Boatright, associate athletic director; and Scherz, who is an associate professor in communication sciences and disorders at WSU.</blockquote>
<p>Wichita State considers this matter closed, and will have no further comment on this situation.</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Source: Jody Adams to remain head coach of WSU Women's Basketball. <a href="http://t.co/DiJsNU2uKj">http://t.co/DiJsNU2uKj</a></p>
— KWCH Eyewitness News (@KWCH12) <a href="https://twitter.com/KWCH12/status/595595678862028800">May 5, 2015</a>
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https://www.swishappeal.com/2015/5/5/8552807/jody-adams-will-remain-head-coach-of-wichita-stateMike Robinson2015-04-28T09:04:52-04:002015-04-28T09:04:52-04:00Wichita St "officially" conducting internal review
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<figcaption>Matthew O'Haren-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Reports: Wichita State is now officially conducting an internal review of the women's basketball program. Just last week, Shockers President John Bardo decided to "look into" the program. </p> <p></p>
<p>The past two weeks for Wichita State's Jody Adams has been a roller coaster of sorts. First, she was the finalist for the Kansas job, but the Jayhawks <a href="http://www.swishappeal.com/2015/4/19/8454923/breaking-kansas-to-hire-brandon-schneider-from-stephen-f-austin">decided to give ex-Stephen F. Austin head coach Brandon Schneider</a>.</p>
<p>Soon after not getting the Kansas position, reports started to surface that players were looking to leave the program. Then, players started to allege that their displeasure with Wichita State had nothing to do with Wichita State, it was more so about Adams -- and the "atmosphere of anger" that she seemingly cultivated.</p>
<p>After this tumult gained momentum, Shockers President John Bardo decided it was apropos to "look into" said allegations. And yesterday, Wichita State announced that they are conducting an "official" internal review. Here is part of the report from <a href="http://ksn.com/2015/04/27/wsu-confirms-internal-review-of-wsu-womens-basketball-coach/">KSN News in Wichita</a>:</p>
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<p>"When four players announced that they wanted to leave the team, and two of them were starters, it raised questions that appeared to be worthy of review," says Lou Heldman, VP of Strategic Communications at Wichita State University.</p>
<p>Four players, Michaela Dapprich, sister Moriah Dapprich, Alie Decker and Kayla White have announced they will transfer out of the program.</p>
<p>KSN asked if the NCAA has been contacted about the allegations of mental and verbal abuse by some former players.</p>
<p>"No one has discussed any potential NCAA matters," says Heldman. "This is strictly an internal review."</p>
<p>Heldman, who met with University President Dr. John Bardo Monday morning, says the President of the University has appointed someone to officially look into the allegations swirling around the WSU women's basketball program."</p>
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<p>In other reports that surfaced yesterday, some players had accused Adams of going over the NCAA mandated hours regarding practice. But a report by <a href="http://www.kwch.com/news/local-news/inquiry-into-allegations-against-wsu-womens-basketball-coach-to-be-complete-by-weeks-end/32603546">KWCH 12 states</a> that the Wichita State head coach did not violate NCAA compliance rules, here is some of the account:</p>
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<p>"Monday evening, we learned Adams did not violate any NCAA compliance rules, including going over the allotted practice hours for the team."</p>
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<p>The internal review should be completed in the coming days.</p>
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https://www.swishappeal.com/2015/4/28/8507495/wichita-state-officially-conducting-internal-review-ncaa-violationsMike Robinson2015-04-26T11:30:02-04:002015-04-26T11:30:02-04:00Gregg Marshall, ex-players support Jody Adams
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<p>This past week, Wichita State head coach Jody Adams has been accused of mental abuse and being too harsh on her players. Now, Shockers men's basketball coach Gregg Marshall and some of Adams' former players are speaking on behalf of Adams. </p> <p></p>
<p>This week, Wichita State's Jody Adams has come under fire, with accusations of mental abuse and harsh treatment of former players, during her tenure as coach. Adams has been castigated by former players who said their experience was discomfiting.</p>
<p>But now there are ex-players speaking out on her behalf, and Shockers men's basketball coach Gregg Marshall has issued you a statement, which supports Adams and her coaching style.</p>
<p>The statement said, "I've always known Jody to be very intense and demanding," Marshall said. "I've never seen her, in the seven years we've worked together, do anything that I would consider crossing the line. I know she holds herself and her team to a very high standard."</p>
<p>In an article by the Wichita Eagle, other former athletes voiced their experience at Wichita State, and how it wasn't as bad as others have articulated. Here is some of the <a href="http://www.kansas.com/sports/college/wichita-state/article19564023.html">piece</a>:</p>
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<p>"In 2009-10, Henderson was a senior who played with a group of freshmen such as Chynna Turner, Jessica Diamond and Jazimen Gordon who led WSU to its first MVC title and NCAA appearance in 2013. Players left during that time and Turner considered them athletes who did not want to meet the program's standards and blamed Adams for their shortcomings.</p>
<p>"The people who thrived, we pushed through," Turner said. "She's given us the right tools to succeed."</p>
<p>Gordon, a current member of the WSU staff as a graduate manager, said she has not witnessed the verbal abuse claimed by some and strongly denied a report of coaches throwing basketballs at players or making them hold concrete boulders until their arms bled. As a manager, she is around the team during practices and conditioning and in the locker room, she said.</p>
<p>"In my six seasons, I've never seen Jody, or any coach, throw anything at a player," Gordon said. "It's shocking to me to see some statements being made."</p>
<p>Gordon, like other players, described her tenure as a player as full of challenges and hard times.</p>
<p>"Was my experience the happy-go-lucky, perfect experience?" she said. "I would say no. I will say it's made me the woman I am today. I wouldn't change too much of anything. If anything, I would change how I reacted."</p>
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<p>And former assistant Wichita State assistant Carlai Moore spoke about the situation:</p>
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<p>"Those stories come with every program," Moore said. "There are many kids that leave for different reasons. Most of the time, kids that leave are not a good fit. Every kid who goes to college is a superstar somewhere. Things begin to change."</p>
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<p>Also, athletic director Eric Sexton has issued a statement on that matter, "We take student welfare very seriously and I am deeply concerned by the reports this week that members of the women's basketball team felt demeaned, rather than motivated, by the coaching they received."</p>
<p>Earlier this week, Wichita State president John Bardo commissioned Dr. Julie Scherz, a faculty athletics representative, to <a href="http://www.swishappeal.com/2015/4/23/8486223/update-wichita-state-looking-into-recent-transfers">"look into" the matter</a> of recent transfers.</p>
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https://www.swishappeal.com/2015/4/26/8499431/gregg-marshall-ex-players-speak-out-in-support-of-jody-adamsMike Robinson2015-04-25T12:09:37-04:002015-04-25T12:09:37-04:00Ex-Wichita St player speaks out against Jody Adams
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<p>In light of the recent allegations made by players at Wichita State, ex-player Molly O'Brien, spoke about her time with the Shockers. </p> <p>Over the past few days, the Wichita State program is dealing with a morass, as allegations of mental abuse, mistreatment and an <a href="http://www.swishappeal.com/2015/4/24/8489859/wichita-state-players-describe-an-atmosphere-of-anger">"atmosphere of anger,"</a> are being alleged against Shockers head coach Jody Adams.</p>
<p>It's gotten to the point, where University President John Bardo, has appointed faculty athletic representative Dr. Julie Scherz to <a href="http://www.swishappeal.com/2015/4/23/8486223/update-wichita-state-looking-into-recent-transfers/in/8253558">"look into"</a> the matter.</p>
<p>One of the former players that played under Adams, Molly O' Brien, is speaking out about her arduous time and experience with the Shockers. O'Brien was interviewed by KSN Sports Director Emily Gagnon.</p>
<p><i>* In view of full disclosure, <a href="http://articles.kwch.com/2012-12-01/shocker-basketball_35536490"><i>O'Brien was suspended from the team in 2012 for violation of team rules</i></a></i>.</p>
https://www.swishappeal.com/2015/4/25/8496115/video-ex-wichita-state-player-speaks-out-against-jody-adamsMike Robinson2015-04-24T11:02:25-04:002015-04-24T11:02:25-04:00Wichita St players describe "atmosphere of anger"
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<figcaption>Matthew O'Haren-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>As we mentioned yesterday, Wichita State President John Bardo is "looking into" why players are leaving the program. More details have emerged about why the players are looking to leave the Shockers. </p> <p>Six days ago, it looked like the reason that four players were looking to leave Wichita State, was because their head coach was a finalist for the Kansas position. But as days have accumulated, their motive for departure belies that notion -- and had nothing to do with Jody Adams potential leaving.</p>
<p>As a matter of fact, it looks like the maelstrom within the women's basketball program has to do with Adams, specifically, and her being the head coach of the Shockers. According to <a href="http://www.kansas.com/sports/college/wichita-state/article19355382.html">Paul Suellentrop of The Wichita Eagle</a>, the players love the university, but are fed up with their coach. Here is part of the article:</p>
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<p>The four players who quit the Wichita State women’s basketball team after the season have met with a university official who reports to president John Bardo to discuss their issues with coach Jody Adams.</p>
<p>Faculty athletic representative Julie Scherz is leading the inquiry and is charged to talk to current and past players, coaches and administrators, said Lou Heldman, WSU vice president of strategic communications. Michaela Dapprich, Moriah Dapprich, Alie Decker and Kayla White met with Scherz recently after leaving the team.</p>
<p>"Dr. Bardo took this seriously from the first report of it," Heldman said. "He is very conscious of the standards of what universities owe to student-athletes, and really, to all students. He asked Dr. Scherz to look into this."</p>
<p>Scherz and Bardo have had at least one conversation and plan another soon, Heldman said. Assistant athletic director for media relations Larry Rankin directed media inquiries to Heldman.</p>
<p>The players, according to a source with knowledge of the conversations and communications with Scherz and athletic department officials, described an atmosphere of anger, isolation and personal insults that caused the players to quit. The issues came to a head recently during offseason training when players ran more than an hour of "suicide" drills as punishment, several sources said.</p>
<p>"They love Wichita State," one source said. "They don’t want to leave. But they can’t take it anymore."</p>
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<br>Read more here: http://www.kansas.com/sports/college/wichita-state/article19355382.html#storylink=cpy</div>
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<p>There is no timetable as to when this situation will be resolved.</p>
https://www.swishappeal.com/2015/4/24/8489859/wichita-state-players-describe-an-atmosphere-of-angerMike Robinson2015-04-23T19:30:31-04:002015-04-23T19:30:31-04:00Report: Wichita State "looking into" transfers
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<figcaption>Matthew O'Haren-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Wichita State is looking into the recent string a transfers, four this off-season. Shockers' President John Bardo has asked a faculty representative to delve further into this situation. </p> <p>Last week <a href="http://www.swishappeal.com/2015/4/18/8449677/four-players-leaving-wichita-state-including-two-starters">we wrote about four players </a>deciding to leave the Wichita State program. Earlier today, according to KWCH12 in Wichita, Shockers' President John Bardo is looking into the reason why the players are leaving the program. Here is some of the <a href="http://www.kwch.com/sports/breaking-bardo-looking-into-wsu-womens-basketball-transfers/32532976">report</a>:</p>
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<p>For the first time since he’s been at Wichita State, President John Bardo is asking a faculty athletic representative to look into the transfer of <a style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; border: 0px none transparent; padding: 0px; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; display: inline;" class="itxtnewhook itxthook" href="http://www.kwch.com/sports/breaking-bardo-looking-into-wsu-womens-basketball-transfers/32532976#" id="itxthook0" rel="nofollow"><span class="itxtrst itxtrstspan itxtnowrap"><span class="itxtrst itxtrstspan itxtnowrap itxtnewhookspan">student</span><img class="itxtrst itxtrstimg itxthookicon" id="itxthook0icon" src="http://images.intellitxt.com/ast/adTypes/icon1.png" style="padding-top: 0px!important; padding-right: 0px!important; padding-bottom: 0px!important; padding-left: 4px!important; vertical-align: baseline!important; margin: 0px!important;"></span></a> athletes.</p>
<p>4 women's basketball players announced last week that they would be transferring from WSU, including starters Michaela Dapprich and Alie Decker. The other two players are Moriah Dapprich and Kayla White.</p>
<p>When it was clear the amount of playing time was not the reason for the transfers, Bardo asked Dr. Julie Scherz, an associate professor on <a style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; border: 0px none transparent; padding: 0px; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; display: inline;" class="itxtnewhook itxthook" href="http://www.kwch.com/sports/breaking-bardo-looking-into-wsu-womens-basketball-transfers/32532976#" id="itxthook1" rel="nofollow"><span class="itxtrst itxtrstspan itxtnowrap"><span class="itxtrst itxtrstspan itxtnowrap itxtnewhookspan">campus</span></span></a>, to look into the situation for those transfers away from the program. Scherz will talk with head coach Jody Adams and the players involved.</p>
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<p>While this not an investigation, clearly, there seems some concern for the President to be looking into this matter.</p>
https://www.swishappeal.com/2015/4/23/8486223/update-wichita-state-looking-into-recent-transfersMike Robinson2015-04-18T12:01:04-04:002015-04-18T12:01:04-04:00Four players to leave Wichita State program
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<p>Four players have decided to leave the Wichita State program. The Shockers' could look a lot different next year, as their head coach Jody Adams, is also a finalist for the Kansas opening. </p> <p>There will be, potentially, a lot of new faces at Wichita State next year. The Shockers' roster was already in transition, with the departures of two starters -- including star Alex Harden who was was <a href="http://www.goshockers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=61195&SPID=2852&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=210028009&DB_OEM_ID=7500">drafted in the second-round</a> of the WNBA Draft. Couple that with their head coach, Jody Adams, is a finalist for the vacant Kansas position.</p>
<p>In light of that, there are four players -- including two starters -- that will be leaving the program. Here's an <a href="http://www.kansas.com/sports/college/wichita-state/article18810822.html">excerpt from The Wichita Eagle</a>:</p>
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<p>Returning starters Michaela Dapprich and Alie Decker are among four players leaving the Wichita State women’s basketball program, according to multiple sources.</p>
<p>Dapprich, a junior guard from Branson, Mo., averaged 12.5 points and 5.9 rebounds and earned honorable mention All-Missouri Valley Conference honors. Decker, a sophomore forward from Edmond, Okla., averaged 8.8 points and 3.6 rebounds. Also leaving are sophomore guard Moriah Dapprich, Michaela’s sister, and sophomore guard Kayla White.</p>
<p>That leaves WSU with five returners, none starters, and two of them transfers who sat out last season.</p>
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<br>Read more here: http://www.kansas.com/sports/college/wichita-state/article18810822.html#storylink=cpy</div>
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<p>Wichita State will return five players from last year's team, and three high school signees.</p>
https://www.swishappeal.com/2015/4/18/8449677/four-players-leaving-wichita-state-including-two-startersMike Robinson