The entire Idaho spring volleyball roster has returned to practice as of Thursday, according to current player Emma Patterson.
In a Wednesday interview, Patterson said that she returned to practice Monday, more players returned Tuesday and the final two players planned to return Thursday. There are only eight players actively participating in practices, however, because one current player entered the transfer portal earlier this year and two more players are out due to injury, Patterson said.
“The amount of relief we felt can’t be put into words,” Patterson said. “Finally, we are being heard. It is all coming together. The school is taking steps to resolve this.”
Head Coach Chris Gonzalez was placed on paid administrative leave on March 27 after a preliminary Office of Civil Rights and Investigations report was written. The investigation found “sufficient evidence” that Gonzalez committed sex-based harassment, retaliated against Idaho players, and violated other UI policies, according to a current Idaho player.
The investigation also found that there was “sufficient evidence” that Gonzalez discriminated against players based on national origin and violated three further UI policies, the 42-page report said. However, there was insufficient evidence that Gonzalez sexually discriminated against female assistant coaches, the player said.
The players were informed that Gonzalez was placed on leave the morning of March 27, pending the results of the OCRI investigation and a separate investigation being conducted by Thompson & Horton, a third-party Texas law firm UI hired to investigate the volleyball program’s climate and culture.
While on leave, Gonzalez cannot conduct practice, contact current players, recruit future players or access any of his UI work accounts, Patterson said. Because of this, the Argonaut was unable to reach Gonzalez for comment.
He is also not allowed to communicate with the assistant coaches and is unable to view practice footage. The players Gonzalez recruited and signed this spring have been informed that he was placed on leave, Patterson said.
Patterson said she had initial concerns about returning to practice because she “feared the environment he (Gonzalez) cultivated would be perpetuated by the assistant coaches.”
“It was not as much as I was fearing. I didn’t know what to expect, but I am fairly pleased with how practices are going, and I appreciate that,” Patterson said.
Because only eight active players are practicing, Patterson said it has mainly been individual drills and skill work instead of scrimmaging. Patterson said that the players who initially opted out of practices still have not been visiting with potential recruits. There is a separate group chat with the players who did not opt out of practice where they are notified of meetings with recruits.
“We haven’t been added to that group chat yet,” Patterson said.
Assistant coach Romana Redondo Kriskova has taken over recruiting responsibilities and has been traveling to tournaments to actively recruit, according to Patterson.
The March 27 meeting came as a shock to many of the players. Athletic Director Terry Gawlik told the players “I realize that this has been incredibly difficult for everyone in our volleyball program this year, and none of us ever want a team or student-athlete to go through what you guys have gone through or are going through,” according to a recording of the meeting obtained by the Argonaut.
Patterson said this response was not expected.
“It was a little bit incredulous. When players came to her in the 2022 season, they were basically laughed out of her office. This year, she responded with ‘that’s it?’” Patterson said. “Why does she appear supportive now?”
Gawlik declined to comment due to the ongoing investigation.
The OCRI final report is currently being written, which contains only a quarter of the players’ initial complaints, Patterson said. That final report, along with a written recommendation from OCRI director Jackie Wernz, will be given to the university and President Scott Green in the coming weeks. The timeline for the investigation into the program’s climate and culture is blurrier, Patterson said.
Joanna Hayes can be reached at [email protected]