Georgetown University placed two women’s basketball coaches on indefinite administrative leave in response to complaints of verbal abuse by the Hoyas’ women’s players two weeks ago assistant vice president for communications Stacy Kerr said in an e-mail on Oct. 2.
The school placed head coach Keith Brown and assistant Tim Valentine on indefinite leave as it investigates accusations of unprofessional conduct and use of improper language toward student-athletes. The school’s Institute of Diversity, Equality and Affirmative Action, in conjunction with outside counsel, is coordinating the investigation.
Brown, who replaced Terri Williams-Flournoy, was entering his second season as the Hoyas’ top man. He had previously served the past five seasons as the team’s top assistant and head recruiter under Williams- Fluomoy. Brown hired Valentine, a former assistant at Elon University in North Carolina, a few weeks after his appointment.
Since Brown’s promotion, multiple players have left the program, including Taylor Brown and Jasmine Jackson. Both Brown and Jackson transferred to George Mason.
In the wake of the accusations, several of Brown’s former players rose to his defense, including four-year starter Monica McNutt, who ranks second in school history in career games played and third in three-point accuracy.
“I had a blast with Keith. In terms of someone that’s there for you, he’s that guy,” McNutt said in a telephone interview. “The problem I have with what’s out there in the media is that it’s portraying him in a negative way, and that’s not who he is. I’m very disappointed in the whole situation.”
The Hoyas went 15-16 in their first season under Brown and missed the NCAA Tournament for the first time in four years.
Assistant coaches Krystal-Reeves Evans and Kenya Kirkland will direct the program until the investigation reaches a conclusion. Reeves-Evans, who previously spent 10 seasons at Gardner- Webb including two seasons as the associate head coach, and Kirkland, a former Hoya player, are each entering their second season with the team in their current capacities.
