Holy Cross Women’s Basketball Coach Placed on Administrative Leave after Former Player Sues Him for ‘physical and Verbal Abuse’

By Dareh Gregorian
New York Daily News
October 16, 2013

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/holy-cross-coach-leave-abuse-suit-article-1.1487808

Bill Gibbons, longtime women’s basketball coach at College of the Holy Cross, is on administrative leave after being sued by a former player.

The longtime head coach for women’s basketball at College of the Holy Cross was placed on administrative leave on Wednesday, one day after a New York woman filed suit against him for being "verbally, emotionally and physically" abusive.

In a statement, Holy Cross said veteran coach Bill Gibbons told his Division-1 team that "he has voluntarily offered to step back from his coaching duties" while the Worcester, Mass. school reviews former player Ashley Cooper's allegations.

Cooper, 20, said she walked away from basketball and a full scholarship to escape Gibbons' "bullying."

Cooper, a standout high school player in New Jersey, played for Gibbons between 2011 and 2013, and said he would "act in an outrageous manner in his yelling, ranting, screaming and hysterics directed towards the Holy Cross players as well as game referees."

Her Manhattan Supreme Court lawsuit also charges that he would "physically hit players," shake them, yank their collars and squeeze the backs of their necks.

Cooper's suit says she's now living in Manhattan. Her suit seeks unspecified money damages from Gibbons and from the school for allegedly turning a blind eye to years of bad behavior.

The college said Gibbons will be on administrative leave with pay "while the situation is under review."

Gibbons has coached at the school for 28 years and has amassed 533 wins and 11 Patriot League championships.

Cooper's lawyer did not return a call for comment.