WORCESTER (MA)
Telegram & Gazette

By Scott J. Croteau and Jennifer Toland TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
scroteau@telegram.com
jtoland@telegram.com

WORCESTER — Holy Cross women’s basketball coach Bill Gibbons voluntarily stepped aside from his coaching duties, one day after he was accused in a lawsuit of verbally and physically abusing his players at games and practices.

The college said in a statement Wednesday he will be on administrative leave with pay and his assistant coaches will assume all coaching duties.

Gibbons declined to comment.

In a lawsuit filed Tuesday, a former student-athlete alleged that Mr. Gibbons physically and verbally abused his players and the college perpetuated a culture of denial and feigned ignorance over his actions.

In the 21-page lawsuit filed in New York, Ashley Cooper, who played two years on Mr. Gibbons’ team, claims the coach struck her on the back on more than one occasion, including during…