UNC Basketball: Sylvia Hatchell Resigns From Coaching

The Washington Post previously reported that North Carolina women’s basketball coach Sylvia Hatchell was accused of making racist remarks to her current players. Hatchell was accused of telling players that they would get “hanged from trees with nooses” unless their gameplay improved. She was also accused of pushing her athletes to compete while injured.
Hatchell and her attorney Wade Smith claimed this was one big misunderstanding.
Smith stated, “She said, ‘They’re going to take a rope and string us up, and hang us out to dry. There is not a racist bone in her body. A very high percentage of the people who have played for her and who love her are African-American women. She is a terrific coach, and a truly world-class human being.”
Hatchell denied all the allegations stemming against her however that didn’t seem to help. UNC placed Hatchell and three of her assistants on administrative leave during the time of the investigation.
But on Friday, April 19, Hatchell resigned from her head coaching position and the Tar Heels are out of a head coach.
UNC’s official statement regarding the incident came out today.
“The University commissioned a review of our women’s basketball program, which found issues that led us to conclude that the program needed to be taken in a new direction. It is in the best interests of our University and student-athletes for us to do so,” says Cunningham. “Coach Hatchell agrees, and she offered her resignation today. I accepted it. We appreciate her 33 years of service to Carolina and to the community, and we wish her the best. Our focus now is on conducting a search for a new head coach who will build on our great Carolina traditions and promote a culture of excellence.”

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Hatchell responded with a heartfelt goodbye.

“It has been the great honor and privilege of my life to coach at the University of North Carolina. I want to thank John Swofford for giving me my dream job 33 years ago.  The University will always hold a special place in my heart.
The game of basketball has given me so much, but now it is time for me to step away. This is an idea I have been contemplating since my cure from leukemia. This year, after defeating Notre Dame, the top-ranked team in the country, and returning to the NCAA Tournament, our program is once again headed in the right direction and ready for new leadership.
Wonderful UNC memories remain — none more special than our 1994 national championship, three Elite 8s and nine ACC championships. I’ve been fortunate to coach more than 200 young women, and it has been a joy to see them grow into successful teachers, doctors, lawyers, mothers, high school and college basketball coaches, and WNBA players. The opportunity to play a small role in their success is the greatest joy of coaching– and of my life.
I owe an enormous debt of gratitude to my assistant coaches and staff for their loyalty and support. They are remarkably talented and accomplished individuals who helped pave the way for our success as a nationally-acclaimed program. The championships we won would not have been possible without their contributions.
While this is a bittersweet day, my faith remains strong. After the fight of my life with leukemia, I count every day as a blessing. I am grateful that God granted me more days on this earth to continue my calling as a coach. I have always believed that we are blessed so we can bless others. My goal has been to plant enough seeds to reap a good harvest.  Today, I can truly say that my harvest has been abundant.
Now, I will turn my attention to supporting the University in different ways. I will continue to raise money for the Lineberger Cancer Center, to establish a ministry of exercise and recovery for cancer patients and to push for equal facilities and treatment for women’s athletics.  I currently have a proposal pending before the NCAA Gender-Equity Task Force to increase the number of former female basketball players in coaching.
I will forever love the University of North Carolina. I am Sylvia Hatchell, and I am a Tar Heel.”

Hatchell has coached UNC since 1986 and had an overall record of 18-15 this past season before getting eliminated in the NCAA tournament.

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