Holy Cross Player Abuse Lawsuit Settled

By Thomas Caywood
Telegram & Gazette
August 23, 2014

http://www.telegram.com/article/20140823/NEWS/308239948/1009

The College of the Holy Cross has settled a lawsuit filed last year by former basketball player Ashley Cooper, who had alleged in her complaint that she was struck and verbally abused by veteran coach Bill Gibbons.

Holy Cross officials declined to discuss whether the settlement included any payment to Ms. Cooper.

"The parties have reached a confidential settlement of all claims in this case, and will have no further comment on this matter," Holy Cross spokesman Ellen Ryder said in a written statement.

Ms. Cooper's lawyers did not immediately return calls seeking comment.

The U.S. District Court in New York, where the case had been filed, was notified of the settlement agreement Aug. 15, according to court records.

The notice of voluntary dismissal filed by Ms. Cooper's lawyer, Elizabeth Eilender, specifies that all parties to the case would pay their own court costs.

The court action had named Mr. Gibbons, the college and its trustees, then Athletic Director Richard M. Regan Jr. and Associate Athletic Director Ann Zelesky as defendants.

Mr. Gibbons was reinstated as coach of the Holy Cross women's basketball team in January. He had been on paid administrative leave since Oct. 16, the day after Ms. Cooper filed her lawsuit.

Ms. Cooper played guard for Holy Cross for two seasons. She alleged that Mr. Gibbons struck her on the back hard enough to cause pain on more than one occasion.

She also alleged the coach struck and humiliated her in the presence of other school officials, who turned a blind eye to the abuse. The suit had sought unspecified damages.

Mr. Gibbons has coached the Holy Cross women's basketball team for three decades and amassed the most wins of any coach in the program's history.

Contact reporter Thomas Caywood at tcaywood@telegram.com