Former Texas Tech women’s coach disputes firing in lawsuit
Former Texas Tech women’s basketball coach Marlene Stollings, who was fired after USA Today published a report detailing players' claims of physical and emotional abuse, has filed a lawsuit against the school and athletic director Kirby Hocutt. The lawsuit filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Lubbock, Texas, claims breach of contract, fraud, fraudulent inducement, defamation and sex discrimination. It said Texas Tech and Hocutt “regularly, and in this instance in particular,” penalized female coaches for employing the “same demanding and effective coaching techniques” that male coaches used without consequence. That’s exactly what I did at Texas Tech, and in return the university and Kirby Hocutt have treated me shamefully and dishonorably," Stollings said. Texas Tech finished 18-11 in Stollings’ second season after going 7-23 the year before she arrived.
Texas Tech athletics cutting 40 positions, reducing salaries
LUBBOCK, Texas Texas Tech will eliminate 40 positions from its athletic department and reduce the salary of many remaining employees in the face of an expected $25 million reduction in revenue over the next year as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The cuts announced by the department Monday night, the final day of the fiscal year for the department, are expected to save Texas Tech roughly $4.5 million. Employees with annual salaries of $30,000 or more will see reductions of 3% to 14% in pay, while those making less than that won't have their salaries reduced. COVID-19 has had a major financial impact on our athletics department, and it was necessary to make these very difficult decisions. The athletic department took in about $95 million in revenue for the fiscal year that ended Monday, but is projecting about $70 million in revenue over the next year.
Report: Texas Tech women’s staff fostered culture of abuse
Texas Tech women's basketball players have accused Stollings and her staff of fostering a culture of abuse that led to an exodus from the program, according to a report published Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020, in USA Today. (AP Photo/Rod Aydelotte, File)LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech women's basketball players have accused coach Marlene Stollings and her staff of fostering a culture of abuse that led to an exodus from the program, according to a report published Wednesday. DeGrate played two seasons at Texas Tech after transferring from Louisville. Texas Tech finished 18-11 in Stollings’ second season after going 7-23 the year before she arrived. “We know change is difficult and that has been no different at Texas Tech,” Stollings said.