A Penn State spokesperson addressed the allegations of misconduct leveled against current Penn State women’s basketball coach Carolyn Kieger.
In a statement to The Daily Collegian, the University spokesperson said “Penn State and Penn State Athletics takes seriously any allegations of misconduct, and any reports are thoroughly reviewed.”
“In addition, Intercollegiate Athletics conducts annual student-athlete surveys of its programs, as well as exit interviews with student-athletes and staff members departing their respective sport programs. Based on direct feedback from student-athletes, Coach Kieger and the women’s basketball staff provide a positive and inclusive environment with a focus on their development on and off the basketball court,” the statement read.
Accusations of Kiegar’s coaching being detrimental to players’ mental health surfaced Monday morning in a story by Onward State.
Onward State’s Joe Lister published a story quoting 13 total players from both Marquette and Penn State describing Kieger’s coaching methods as “traumatizing” and “psychotic manipulation”.
“Three players and two assistant coaches spoke positively about Kieger,” Lister wrote.
Former Penn State assistant Aaron Kallhoff said “Carolyn’s got a high, high standard and is very competitive and very intense.”
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.“That’s going to look a different way to different kids. Some kids, it might be too much. Some kids, that might be exactly what they need.”
According to Lister, 10 players described the experience of playing for Kieger as the “worst of their lives”. Those players stated that the culture Kieger built at their respective programs incorporated aspects of “racism, body shaming, bullying and more.”
One player, former Marquette athlete Danielle King, was quoted saying “In my senior year, I was dealing with depressive thoughts and suicidal thoughts.”
“I was talking to (Kieger) about it, and she dismissed it. And she basically talked me down to go into seeing the student counselor, or the counselor on campus, or whatever. And she was like, ‘I just think you need to go to the gym more,’ and basically shamed me [by] saying my work ethic was the reason why I was depressed.”
Another former Marquette player told a story about a Marine-esque workout that made players feel like they were being waterboarded and that players were “screaming” and “drowning”.
Kieger and the Athletic Department initially declined to comment on the article. The University’s statement was issued early Monday evening.
