Latest news with #UtahState
New York Post
a day ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Shocking details emerge after Clemson fires gymnastics coach over alleged abusive behavior
Clemson fired former gymnastics coach Amy Smith in April following alleged 'verbal and mental abuse,' according to a report Monday from The Post and Courier. The South Carolina-based school reportedly cited sections on 'responsible treatment of athletes,' 'demonstrating concern for their welfare' and 'physical and/or emotional abuse' in its termination letter. One parent of a Clemson gymnast thanked athletic director Graham Neff for dismissing Smith on April 18 after he notified the athletes' parents, stating in an email how it would 'make a statement in the gymnastics community the abuse in any form is not and will not be tolerated.' Advertisement 3 Clemson coach Amy Smith in January 2025. Getty Images 'No one ever wants anyone to lose a job, but we also have hopes and expectations that people will do their jobs and do it without using any type of verbal and mental abuse,' the parent wrote. Clemson began moving toward firing Smith following an increase in messages to the school's anonymous hotline 'regarding the program's culture and environment,' per the report. Advertisement Stephanie Ellison-Johnson, Clemson's executive senior associate athletic director for sport administration and senior woman administrator, revealed in an April 10 email that there had been a bump in messages from the fall of 2024 to the spring of 2025, including 'emotional/mental abuse within the gymnastics team.' She called for a 'deeper dive,' per the outlet, which led to a survey in January and one-on-one meetings with 15 of 20 gymnasts. The school reportedly had a 'midyear review' on Feb. 17 with Smith, Ellison-Johnson and Neff before bringing in the parents for a March discussion. 3 Amy Smith celebrates with a Clemson gymnast. Getty Images Advertisement Clemson later met with Smith on April 6 regarding 'team culture and environment and roster management plans' for 2025-26, before the athletics office 'engaged legal counsel' for guidance and information sharing on April 9, as relayed by Ellison-Johnson and reported by the paper. The school had an April 11 meeting set between Neff and the gymnasts before firing Smith one week later. One parent responded to Neff's email about the move, per the outlet: 'It's been a long, long, long, hard season and these girls have handled it and done so much with so much stress and adversity.' Advertisement Clemson hired Smith in April 2022 to lead the school's new women's gymnastics program despite concern from her previous head coaching stint at Utah State from 2017-22 and time at North Carolina. Former Tar Heel Raine Gordon alleged that Smith — who served as an assistant coach at the school from 2012-13 and then became the assistant head coach from 2014-17 — body shamed her, as detailed in a 2023 report from The Washington Post. She claimed that Smith once said she bruised a calf during a fall because she was 'fat.' The paper further reported that 10 Utah State gymnasts left Smith's program in 2019. 3 Ken Ruinard – staff / USA TODAY NETWORK Clemson told The Washington Post it did an 'extensive amount of research' into Smith's background before hiring her, and Neff praised his new coach's culture-building skills upon bringing her into the fold. 'Amy knows college gymnastics inside and out, and has demonstrated the ability to help student-athletes achieve both in and out of the gym,' Neff said in a press release at the time. 'We are attempting to build this program the right way, and Amy and our administration share a vision for how great Clemson Gymnastics can be, and that she can help create a strong culture.'
Forbes
2 days ago
- Sport
- Forbes
Clemson Gymnastics Coach Dismissed For Cause Amid Allegations Of Abusive Conduct
BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 26: Head coach Amy Smith reacts with Lilly Lippeatt of the Clemson ... More Tigers against the California Golden Bears at Haas Pavilion on January 26, 2025 in Berkeley, California. (Photo by Thien-An Truong/) The spring's bombshell firing of the Clemson Gymnastics Head Coach was likely due to alleged abusive treatment of athletes, new documents suggest. In a university notice of separation acquired by Jon Blau of The Post and Courier, the findings pointed toward Smith's violation of three clauses in her university contract as cause for termination. The document alleges that Smith failed to do the following in her tenure as head coach. First, she did not uphold 'the responsible treatment of athletes.' Second, she did not '(demonstrate) concern for their welfare,' and third, Smith failed to not engage in 'physical and/or emotional abuse.' The reporting comes nearly three months after the university announced Smith's termination on April 21, 2025, cutting short her two-year term as the program's inaugural head coach. Though hired to lead Clemson's gymnastics program from the ground up, Smith's tenure was overshadowed by controversy. Past Misconduct Comes to Light Multiple former athletes accused Smith of abusive behavior during her time as head coach at Utah State (2017–21) and as an assistant coach at the University of North Carolina (2016–17). In a 2023 report by the Washington Post, Smith's former athletes alleged body-shaming and public humiliation that escalated to team-wide disordered eating, with one UNC gymnast attesting to Smith's attempt to pressure her into a weight-loss contract. At Utah State, Smith's coaching fostered a 'culture of fear and anxiety,' with her behaviors allegedly leading to untimely retirements and transfers from large swaths of the athletes. Ten gymnasts departed the program in 2019 and seven in 2021. Though UNC's then-head coach Derek Galvin would later recognize the negative impact of Smith's 'intensity,' neither UNC nor Utah State conducted investigations into Smith's behavior. In result, Clemson University was unaware of any active investigations against Smith in her role as a gymnastics coach, with Clemson Athletic Director Graham Neff ensuring that Smith was 'thoroughly vetted.' Thus, the Clemson Tigers went on to a winning record in Smith's two seasons at the helm, with both seasons ending with appearances at the NCAA gymnastics postseason. The Tigers finished 2nd and 5th at the 2024 and 2025 ACC Championships, and senior Brie Clark made national headlines as the first NCAA gymnast to compete the 'Biles' skill on floor exercise. Anonymous Reports Prompt University Action Despite the apparent success, underlying concerns began to surface. Clemson University utilizes Real Response, a system where student-athletes can anonymously report 'any issues related to their student-athlete experience.' The university states these concerns can range from 'compliance or time management concerns, gambling, hazing, drugs/alcohol, discrimination, sexual assault, team issues, domestic violence, social issues, health/wellness issues, etc. to less serious issues such as a maintenance problem in your locker room.' To share feedback or concerns with university athletic administrators, a Clemson student athlete can text 'share' to 66595. In late 2024, anonymous messages began to trickle in from gymnasts, with Clemson women's sports administrator Stephanie Ellison-Johnson attesting to an 'increased number of messages' from gymnasts in the fall of 2024 and early spring of 2025. Those messages pertained to concerns regarding "the program's culture and environment.' The influx of messages spurred the university to act, conducting one-on-one meetings with 15 of the 20 athletes on the gymnastics team, Ellison-Johnson wrote. Findings from those meetings led to a mid-year review in mid-February with Coach Smith, followed by meetings with athletes' parents in March. The Post and Courier reports that gymnasts were then surveyed about their experience in the program. On April 6, administrators met with Smith to discuss 'team culture and environment' as well as 'roster management plans" for the upcoming season. Three days later, the athletics administration 'engaged legal counsel' to seek 'guidance' and 'share information collected.' Another email from Johnson-Ellison referenced an April 11 meeting for athletes to meet with Athletic Director Neff to 'voice their concerns.' One week after the meeting, on April 18, Clemson terminated Smith's contract. Community Response The reaction to Smith's termination was swift and overwhelmingly positive. Following Smith's firing on April 18, one parent emailed the Athletic Director to applaud Clemson's execution of the investigation, thanking Neff for "doing your due diligence and actually protecting our girls." "We assumed, correctly, that you didn't take this lightly," another parent wrote to Neff. 'In the end, it looks like you made the choice for your student-athletes over how it would look initially for the program.' Roughly a month following Smith's termination, Clemson hired the University of California's lauded coaching duo – Justin Howell and Elisabeth Crandall-Howell – as Smith's replacements. The hiring included a multi-million-dollar buyout. The duo led the Cal Women's Gymnastics program to new heights in the past decade, taking the program to a National Runner-Up finish in 2024. Since their arrival, the Howells have sparked an immediate and dramatic surge in Clemson's recruiting success, with several former California gymnastics commits flipping to join the Howells in their new locale. With fresh leadership at the helm, Clemson positions itself not just as a rising contender, but as a program with clearer commitment to athlete safety and wellbeing.
Boston Globe
6 days ago
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Five things to know about Celtics' second-round draft pick Max Shulga
Here are five things to know about the Celtics final draft selection: He followed his coach from Utah State to VCU, where he ascended Shulga was a role player over his first two seasons at Utah State before breaking out in his third year: he increased his points per game average from 4.4 as a sophomore to 11.9 as a junior, and his 3-point attempts climbed from 1.3 per game to 4.3. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Coach Ryan Odom departed Utah State for the same job at VCU following the season, and Shulga followed his coach as a transfer. Advertisement Shulga continued his upward trajectory his first year at VCU, averaging 14 points per game and shooting 41.5 percent from beyond the arc to earn first-team All-Atlantic 10 honors. Then, after returning as a fifth-year senior, he won the Atlantic 10 Player of the Year award and led VCU to the NCAA Tournament. Shooting is his biggest strength Shulga is a high-volume, high-efficiency shooter, and lauded by most analysts as one of the top catch-and-shoot players in the draft class. Advertisement Across his two seasons at VCU, Shulga knocked down 40.2 percent of his 3-pointers on nearly 400 attempts, and averaged more than five attempts per game. His shooting was particularly effective off the catch, drilling 43.4 percent of his catch-and-shoot threes last season. He also showcased his NBA range in nailing 40 percent of his 3-pointers from beyond 25 feet. He is well-rounded but without other clear strengths Shulga is more than just a shooter on the offensive end, converting 56.3 percent of his attempts at the rim and drawing 5.4 free throw attempts per game this past season. He also averaged 4.0 assists to 1.7 turnovers. Yahoo's Kevin O'Connor writes that 'he is more of a secondary ball-handler, but has a solid handle with some wiggle,' while also noting that 'he lacks burst off the dribble, which limits his ceiling as a shot creator.' On the defensive end, he guards well at the point of attack and has shown toughness, but analysts worry about his lack of size and lateral quickness holding up against NBA competition. He moved to Spain at age 13 to further his basketball development Shulga grew up in Kviv, and learned the game from his older family members — his father refereed FIBA basketball games and his uncle played professionally in Europe. He moved to Spain at age 13 to attend the Basketball School of Excellence in Torrelodones, a Madrid suburb, and became a top youth player in the Spanish junior leagues. Shulga emerged on the radar of US college coaches following his performances with the Ukrainian junior national team, which he continued to compete for after moving to Spain. In the B Division of the Under-18 European Championships, he averaged 13 points and seven rebounds while shooting 53 percent from three. Advertisement VCU fans waived Ukrainian flags in support on senior night With his immediate family members still residing in Kyiv during a prolonged time of unrest in Ukraine following Russia's 2022 invasion, the VCU basketball program and wider community worked to show solidarity for Shulga. On senior night in March, hundreds of VCU fans waved Ukrainian flags when Shulga was introduced, with the fanbase dubbing it 'Moment for Max.' Shulga has been open in numerous media interviews about the challenges of balancing his basketball career with the ongoing conflict back home. 'When I'm on the court, playing in the game, everything kind of just goes away,' Matty Wasserman can be reached at
USA Today
13-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Kansas City Chiefs HC Andy Reid makes a detailed evaluation of rookie WR Jalen Royals
Kansas City Chiefs HC Andy Reid makes a detailed evaluation of rookie WR Jalen Royals During his press conference on Thursday, Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid gave his assessment of rookie wide receiver Jalen Royals. 'Yeah, he (Jalen Royals) looks like he's a sharp kid. He works hard, he's strong – a little bit like Rashee (Rice) in that way. Probably like Rashee (in more) than one (way),' said Reid, 'He's got a little bit more beef to him, (a) thick lower body, but again, (he's) strong, and he picks stuff up – he doesn't say a whole lot. (He's) very, very quiet, but he picks things up and does a nice job with it.' Since being drafted by the Chiefs, Royals has consistently heard the Rashee Rice comparisons. He was recently featured in the NFLPA Rookie Premiere event as one of the players to watch heading into the 2025 season. During his final college season, Royals was named second-team All-Mountain West. He led Utah State with 55 receptions, 834 receiving yards, and tallied six touchdowns while starting seven games.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Opinion: Science is Utah's quiet engine — don't stall it with cuts to important funding
Science quietly powers Utah's prosperity. From lifesaving diagnostics at ARUP Laboratories and cutting-edge biotech startups to clean energy research at Utah State and drought-resistant crops developed through university partnerships, science is behind much of what makes life in Utah better, longer and more secure. In 2024, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) awarded over $300 million to Utah institutions. That funding supported thousands of jobs, helped launch companies, and enabled groundbreaking research in everything from cancer treatments to Alzheimer's to rare disease therapies. Public health advances that benefit every Utahn — urban or rural — almost always begin through federally funded research. But now, that progress is in jeopardy. Proposed cuts and restrictions to NIH funding could have devastating effects on Utah's research institutions and economy. The plan to slash NIH's overall budget by nearly half, coupled with a proposal to reduce the indirect cost reimbursement to universities from around 50% to 15%, would mean far less money to cover the real costs of doing science. Basics like lab space, utilities, data storage and administrative support aren't luxuries — they're the infrastructure that makes research possible. For public universities like the University of Utah and Utah State, this isn't just a budget concern. It's a structural threat. Without adequate indirect cost support, universities would either have to drastically scale back research activity or shift the financial burden to students and state taxpayers. Both options would weaken Utah's competitive edge in science and technology. The consequences would ripple far beyond campus. Utah is known for its 'Industry' motto — a title that honors the resourcefulness and hard work that built our communities. Today, that industrious spirit thrives in our biotech labs, clean tech startups and health research centers. But industries can't thrive without innovation. Utah's life sciences sector depends on a steady pipeline of NIH-supported talent and discoveries emerging from research. Companies like Recursion, Myriad Genetics and BioFire Diagnostics thrive because of academic partnerships and access to skilled graduates. Pulling funding would slow innovation and shrink the talent pool. But it's not just about economics. It's about people. NIH funding supports clinical trials that help Utah families battling cancer. It funds suicide prevention programs in our schools, mental health outreach in rural counties, and pediatric care innovations at Primary Children's Hospital (PCH). It supports research for Native American communities and families dealing with chronic conditions like diabetes and asthma. Without that funding, many of these programs would disappear. I've seen the impact of public health investment firsthand. After I tested positive for latent tuberculosis as a student, I received free weekly treatment and health monitoring through the Utah County Health Department. It was science-backed care, delivered through a local system supported by federal resources. Without that treatment, I could have developed active tuberculosis — a threat not just to me but also to others. The system worked because it was built on scientific research and proactive policy. That kind of safety net doesn't happen without sustained funding. Furthermore, my nephew, Wesley, was cared for at PCH when he was just four months old. He was diagnosed with polyarteritis nodosa, a rare autoimmune disease that causes inflammation and damage to the heart. The NIH not only funds various programs at PCH but also was crucial to backing the science that led to properly diagnosing and saving Wesley. These cuts hurt the next generation. Graduate students and early career scientists — many of whom come from Utah — rely on federal research grants to get their start. If funding dries up, so do those opportunities. We risk losing promising young minds to other careers or other countries. This is not a partisan issue. Scientific progress should never be about politics. Every Utahn benefits from the medications they take, the clean water they drink, the safe food they eat and the medical care they receive. All of these are underpinned by science. Restricting it weakens our shared safety net and quality of life. Utah is built on hard work, innovation and foresight. Cutting science funding now would undermine the very foundation that allows us to adapt, compete and care for our communities. Science works for Utah — let's keep it that way.
