'Attempted sexual relations with players → retaliation for complaints' soapy  director, U.S. college softball world in uproar! Ultimately fired

*This content was translated by AI.

The U.S. college sports world was thrown into chaos by unprecedented allegations of sexual misconduct by a women's softball coach. Over 11 years, the coach, who held positions at multiple universities, allegedly exploited her authority to treat student athletes as sexual targets and ruthlessly retaliated against complaining players by stripping scholarships and expelling them.

According to multiple media outlets including U.S. Sports Illustrated and Total Pro Sports on the 25th (Korea time), Gardner-Webb University in North Carolina recently officially announced the non-renewal of its contract with head coach Bailey Wigness. While superficially appearing as a contract expiration, the move is in fact a de facto dismissal resulting from serious sexual misconduct revelations that erupted both on and off campus.

This scandal extends beyond a single institution. According to the reports, Wigness's inappropriate conduct was repeatedly committed at multiple universities she worked at over the past 11 years, including Boise State University and the University of South Carolina Beaufort.

Testimonies from victimized players are shocking. Former athletes claimed that Coach Wigness used her absolute authority as a coach to target specific players for "sexual relationships." After isolating targeted players from their teammates, she approached them privately. When other players noticed or objected to these relationships, she would forcibly remove them from the roster.

One victim revealed, "The coach had a sexual relationship with my teammate, and when I protested, she immediately expelled me from the roster." Another player testified that when conflicts arose from her private relationship with the coach, the coach threatened to commit suicide and engaged in coercion and gaslighting. She also lured players to her home under the pretext of "watching her dog" to close the distance.

Similar retaliatory acts continued even at Gardner-Webb University, where she was recently employed. One player who formally raised concerns about inappropriate relationships and operational methods with the university administration was stripped of all scholarships without clear reason, ultimately suffering the forced termination of her softball career.

According to internal university documents, complaints and concerns about Coach Wigness were reported almost annually at Gardner-Webb University. Despite this, the incident was tolerated for a long time until a new president and athletic director (AD) took office, triggering a comprehensive investigation that finally brought the matter to light.

University leadership held an emergency meeting with the team ahead of the conference tournament and immediately suspended Coach Wigness from her duties. Wigness was unable to sit on the bench during the season's final major tournament. University authorities ultimately confirmed their decision not to renew her contract upon its expiration in June 2026.

Currently, a senior player named "Anika McLaughlin" defended the coach, stating, "It may be an exaggerated claim by some players dissatisfied with their playing time." However, the university declared a final break, considering the severity of the "persistent and repetitive misconduct pattern" revealed by the investigation.

The Gardner-Webb University softball program, now engulfed in the worst sexual scandal in U.S. college sports history, is in a state of great shock. Ahead of the next season, the university has appointed Matt Burns, a male coach, as the new leader to rebuild the collapsed team.

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*This content was translated by AI.