Syracuse hires firm to investigate former women's basketball players' allegations against coach

Syracuse has hired an outside firm to investigate allegations of inappropriate behavior levied against women's basketball coach Quentin Hillsman, including alleged cases of unwanted touching and bullying.

According to a report by The Athletic, which spoke with several former players, team managers and staff members, Hillsman fostered a culture of verbal and physical abuse through intimidation, threats and inappropriate physical contact.

"Based on the nature of these allegations, Syracuse University is engaging an outside firm to conduct an independent review and will take appropriate action based on its outcome," said Sarah Scalese, the university's senior associate vice president for communications, in a statement obtained by USA TODAY Sports. 

"While no formal complaints have been made to date from members of the women’s basketball program, we take these allegations very seriously. We ask any individual who has knowledge of or has experienced this kind of conduct to come forward. Syracuse University remains focused on the well-being and success of our student-athletes.”

The former players, managers and support staffers described several instances where Hillsman unleashed expletive-laden tirades directed at individual players or the entire team. Two players also told of Hillsman preventing the team from drinking water during grueling conditioning sessions.

Several players also communicated multiple incidences when Hillsman engaged in unwanted contact. In one such incidence witnessed by two other individuals, a former player said Hillsman embraced her from behind and wrapped his hands around her body, "placing his hands near her pelvic region." Hillsman then brushed the moment off as a joke, the player said.

In another instance, three players said Hillsman concluded conversations about playing time by kissing them on the forehead, making them feel uncomfortable.

The report also details how Hillsman created a position before the 2019 season for longtime friend Ronnie Enoch, who was previously fired as an assistant coach at North Carolina Central University amid complaints that he had commented on players' physical appearance and sent inappropriate text messages.

According to The Athletic, Enoch has exhibited similar behavior while at Syracuse. In one such episode, Enoch asked a player if she was menstruating.

Among the nine players who were interviewed, three said their experiences as members of the program caused them to have suicidal thoughts and five said they received therapy.

The accusations against Hillsman come as Syracuse has lost 11 players to transfer since the end of last season, the most of any Division I basketball program, men or women. 

On June 16, Syracuse athletics director John Wildhack told Syracuse.com that the exodus of players is "a sign of the times."

"I totally support (Hillsman)," Wildhack said. "I support the values that he has for this program. I support the standards that he holds everyone to, regardless of what your high school ranking was, or how good a player you are or how good a player you aren’t."

Hired from within the Syracuse staff in 2006, Hillsman has won a program-record 319 games and made nine trips to the women's NCAA tournament. The Orange advanced to the national championship game in 2016 before losing to Connecticut. 

Follow colleges reporter Paul Myerberg on Twitter @PaulMyerberg