The University Of Kentucky Fired Its Entire Cheerleading Coaching Staff Amid Public Nudity And Hazing Allegations
The University of Kentucky fired its entire cheerleading coaching staff and its adviser after a three-month investigation.
The university claimed its staff “failed to provide reasonable oversight during off-campus events.”
The university cited alleged incidents of alcohol use, hazing, and public nudity.
The University of Kentucky just released a bombshell statement following a three-month probe into the school’s cheerleading team, which is most known for winning 24 national championships in the past 35 years. In an effort to “protect students and ensure the integrity of the nation’s premier collegiate cheerleading program,” the university fired its entire coaching staff after administrative officials found incidents of alleged hazing, alcohol abuse, and public nudity.
Head coach Jomo Thompson and assistant coaches Ben Head, Spencer Clan, and Kelsey LaCroix were all “dismissed” when the university determined they “failed to provide reasonable oversight during off-campus events.” The team’s adviser of four decades, T. Lynn Williamson, also demonstrated poor oversight and judgment in the eyes of the university. However, Williamson was not fired because he retired days after learning about the school’s investigation and after “being directed to have no contact with the cheerleading squad.”
According to the school, the investigation began when a family member reported a party-like atmosphere during a team retreat in February. More than 60 students, coaches, and administrators in the cheer program were interviewed over the course of three months, and several disturbing accusations were made.
At the Lake Cumberland retreat in February, some cheerleaders performed “basket tosses” and lobbed topless or bottomless teammates off a dock and into the water. The school went on to say that these stunts “were done at the direction of other members of the squad and within the view of at least some of the coaches.”
The University of Kentucky also claimed the coaches allowed alumni to bring boats and alcohol to Lake Cumberland and didn’t stop any of the students from drinking, which led to some needing medical attention.
And during a different retreat in Tennessee, some cheerleaders allegedly instructed their teammates to “perform lewd chants and wear outfits that did not include underwear.”
On top of all that, the university found conflicts of interest for two coaches who had their own gymnastics businesses and hired some of the squad members. There were also incidents of Williamson hiring the coaches and students “to perform work at his home.”
In addition to beginning the search for new coaching staff, the University of Kentucky has banned the team’s annual retreat and will increase supervision during off-campus trips. “Cheerleading squad members will be held to the same standards as all our student athletes,” said the executive associate athletics director, Sandy Bell. “It’s a new day for UK cheerleading.”
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