Softball: UL fires head softball coach Michael Lotief

Kristin Askelson and Kevin Foote, The Daily Advertiser, Nov. 1, 2017

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette fired head softball coach Michael Lotief on Wednesday saying in a news release that Lotief violated university policies by subjecting student-athletes and coworkers to violent, vulgar language and verbal and physical assault, creating a hostile learning and working environment.

“Behavior of this nature will not be tolerated,” University President Dr. Joseph Savoie said in the release. “I want to commend the students for coming forward. They exemplified great courage in sharing their stories.”

In addition, softball assistant coach Chris Malveaux and video coordinator Kate Malveaux have been dismissed.

A national search for a new head softball coach will begin immediately, according to director of Louisiana Athletics Dr. Bryan Maggard. 

Lotief responded to the allegations in a press conference Wednesday afternoon.

“I have never been involved in a physical confrontation in my life,” he said, surrounded by his wife, Stefni; his lawyer, Glenn Edwards; and several of his players. 

There has been outcry from softball supporters and players since Lotief was placed on leave Oct. 6.

A group of softball season-ticket holders sent a letter to Savoie asking him to support the softball program and Lotief.

More: Coach Lotief never wavered in supporting women, players

The letter raised concerns about possible Title VII and Title IX violations, and asked the president to explain why the team doesn’t have the same level of support — such as a dedicated athletic trainer and grounds and facilities maintenance — that men’s teams do.

The letter was sent Oct. 24 and indicated there had been no response from the university.

“This accusation is so one-sided, it’s just ridiculous," said softball supporter Vance Lanier. “Scott Farmer got me to love my university again, passionately love it and do whatever I could to help the university better itself. This guy has done everything to hate it again, and I mean it. The bail-out from this on the fan side will be tremendous. It will crush the softball budget."

Maggard has not commented publicly on Lotief’s removal or any investigation. Attempts to seek comment have been forwarded to Aaron Martin, chief communications officer for UL.

Before beginning his tenure at UL in February, Maggard was an associate athletic director for more than 20 years at the University of Missouri, where a similar situation unfolded with that school’s softball program. 

In 2016, head softball coach Ehren Earleywine came under fire when his bosses launched an internal investigation into allegations that he mistreated players. In response, Missouri softball players protested, claiming the investigation was related to allegations of Title IX violations by the school. 

No violations were proven; Earleywine resumed his job in 2017 after Missouri’s athletic director left for a new job at Baylor.

In a letter to university officials, UL softball players called Lotief’s investigation "unjust and uncorroborated." They say they believe the coach is being targeted for standing up for female athletes.

The letter contained names and signatures of 25 women on the UL softball roster.

Players Alyssa Denham and DJ Sanders told KATC they sent the letter because they believe Lotief has been mistreated for standing up for them as female athletes. And now they say they feel betrayed by the university.

"We put so much into it and then for them to just leave us without anything is kind of hurtful and we feel betrayed because we expected them to have our backs," Sanders, a senior, told KATC.

Also this week, assistant coach and former Ragin’ Cajuns softball player Sara Corbello was fired, her attorney told KATC.

"She was given no reasoning. They contacted her over the weekend and fired her on Monday. She had nothing to do with the investigation into Lotief and they wouldn’t give her a reason as to why they fired her," attorney Clayton Burgess said.

More: Update: Response to UL softball coach Lotief being placed on administrative leave

Lotief said, through attorney John E. McElligott Jr., that his suspension was prompted by a "passionate conversation about gender equity, between Coach Lotief and other University personnel. In this conversation, Coach Lotief raised simple issues like getting the grass cut, making sure students have an athletic trainer at practice, making sure the assistant coaches get paid and ensuring female athletes get a functional assessment before doing weight training."

Lotief is one of the nation’s most successful head softball coaches. He has a career record of 729-174. This past season, his program finished 47-8 and a record 23-1 in Sun Belt play.

More than just overall winning, Lotief is regarded as one of the top hitting coaches in America. In his 14 seasons, UL has pounded out 1,127 home runs with a .307 team batting average.

Overall, the Cajuns have won 40 games in each of his 14 seasons, eight over 50 and a school-record 60 wins in 2004.

Athletic Network Footnote by Dr. Ed Dugas.

Softball: UL fires Softball coach

 

Posted: Nov 01, 2017 1:51 PM CDT Updated: Nov 01, 2017 2:22 PM CDT
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