The Daily OrangeCoach denies racial insensitivity, disrespecting team
By Mike Licker
Posted: 4/22/04, 12:20 AM EST Section: Sports
When first-year Syracuse women's basketball coach Keith Cieplicki signed up for the job last spring, he didn't sign up for the problems that ensued.
Details of Cieplicki's tumultuous first season have begun to emerge. Former players Marchele Campbell, Tierra Jackson and April Jean have all decided to speak out about their experiences under Cieplicki. Campbell sat out the 2002-03 season for failing to meet initial NCAA eligibility requirement. Jean missed the first semester of this season for NCAA academic suspension.
All three players had a dismal experience playing for Cieplicki. Jackson, Jean, Campbell and a current SU player who asked to remain anonymous accused Cieplicki of threatening scholarships, being racially insensitive and acting disrespectfully to players and administrative staff.
Cieplicki, though, denied these accusations. Cieplicki and Director of Athletics Jake Crouthamel attributed much of the criticism to a different coaching style from former head coach Marianna Freeman
"This year was abnormal," Campbell said. "Never in my life have I had problems with a coach. I feel like I'm a bad person. It's making me feel like I'm causing problems. The coach is driving people off the team."
Besides the one current SU player who has agreed to speak anonymously, the rest of the Orangewomen declined comment to The Daily Orange. Some said these players refused comment out of fear of the repercussions of their comments. Campbell, who is still close with her former teammates, said that if players weren't afraid of losing their scholarships, all but one player would have left the team.
While the players interviewed all gave general accounts of their problems with Cieplicki, they struggled to give many specific examples.
Campbell, Jackson and Jean all said that during the course of the season Cieplicki made what they felt to be racially insensitive remarks. They said that when Cieplicki approached black players, he would say, "What up dog?"
Details of Cieplicki's tumultuous first season have begun to emerge. Former players Marchele Campbell, Tierra Jackson and April Jean have all decided to speak out about their experiences under Cieplicki. Campbell sat out the 2002-03 season for failing to meet initial NCAA eligibility requirement. Jean missed the first semester of this season for NCAA academic suspension.
All three players had a dismal experience playing for Cieplicki. Jackson, Jean, Campbell and a current SU player who asked to remain anonymous accused Cieplicki of threatening scholarships, being racially insensitive and acting disrespectfully to players and administrative staff.
Cieplicki, though, denied these accusations. Cieplicki and Director of Athletics Jake Crouthamel attributed much of the criticism to a different coaching style from former head coach Marianna Freeman
"This year was abnormal," Campbell said. "Never in my life have I had problems with a coach. I feel like I'm a bad person. It's making me feel like I'm causing problems. The coach is driving people off the team."
Besides the one current SU player who has agreed to speak anonymously, the rest of the Orangewomen declined comment to The Daily Orange. Some said these players refused comment out of fear of the repercussions of their comments. Campbell, who is still close with her former teammates, said that if players weren't afraid of losing their scholarships, all but one player would have left the team.
While the players interviewed all gave general accounts of their problems with Cieplicki, they struggled to give many specific examples.
Campbell, Jackson and Jean all said that during the course of the season Cieplicki made what they felt to be racially insensitive remarks. They said that when Cieplicki approached black players, he would say, "What up dog?"
