Lawyer for Former Holy Cross Basketball Player: Coach Bill Gibbons Hit So Hard He Left Marks

By John F. Hill
The Masslive
October 16, 2013

http://www.masslive.com/news/worcester/index.ssf/2013/10/holy_cross_basketball_coach_bill_gibbon.html

College of Holy Cross head coach Bill Gibbons during a 2013 game.

Ashley Cooper, a former Holy Cross basketball player, alleges her coach was abusive

The longtime coach of the College of Holy Cross women's basketball team was well known for years as being verbally, emotionally and physically abusive with players, the lawyer for a former player said.

Coach Bill Gibbons routinely screamed at players, horse-collared them, and on several occasions struck so hard he left marks, attorney Elizabeth Eilender said in an interview with MassLive.com.

"This was done not in an encouraging way, but out of anger and frustration," said Eilender "The man is clearly in need of some anger management therapy."

In a lawsuit filed Tuesday in Manhattan Supreme Court in New York City, former player Ashley Cooper claims Holy Cross was informed but did nothing to stop the alleged abuse. The suit names Holy Cross, Gibbons, athletic director Richard Regan Jr., and associate athletic director Ann Zelesky as defendants.

Eilender said Gibbons is known for being aggressive on the sidelines, to the point players on other teams told Holy Cross players, "your coach is crazy." Yet the coach's actions went beyond mere coaching intensity, she said.

"The yelling and the screaming is the least of it, we're talking about physical abuse here," Eilender said.

Gibbons is now entering his 29th year as the women's coach of the College. The Worcester native is a graduate of Clark University. In 2011, he became the 24th active coach to reach 500 career NCAA Division 1 victories.

Eilender compared the case to that of infamous former Rutgers men's basketball coach Mike Rice, who lost his job after ESPN aired video of him screaming and throwing basketballs at players during practices.

"I actually think this is worse," Eilender said, comparing the cases. "You learn when you're little you don't hit girls."

The suit alleges Holy Cross has known about the abuse but done nothing to stop it. In a statement, the College said it previously investigated some of Cooper's claims, but the lawsuit brought forth new allegations it would look into.

“The physical, mental and emotional wellbeing of our students is our highest priority at Holy Cross. We just received the lawsuit and are in the process of reviewing it," said Ellen Ryder, director of public affairs.

Gibbons could not be reached for comment.

Eilender said that any investigation the college performed was "a joke."

"Holy Cross did what Holy Cross does, they buried it, they denied it, they covered it up," she said, adding, "I don't understand why they're protecting this man."

The alleged abuse forced Cooper to transfer out of Holy Cross after two years, giving up her athletic scholarship, Eilender said. She now attends New York University in Manhattan, which her family is paying for in full.

Cooper, 20, is originally from Colts Neck, N.J. Her father played basketball at University of Louisville, according to her Holy Cross athletics bio.

Eilender commended Cooper's bravery in standing up for other players.

"I don't want this to happen to anyone else ever again," Cooper said in an interview with ABC News. "I want to stop it. I'm doing this for other people. I'm taking a stand for others, for every freshman that walks through the door."