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 | | Todd Petty, shown talking to his players during a match against Oklahoma State on April 1, stepped down as women's tennis coach June 30. | | John Moore, For the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal | |
| The head coach of the Texas Tech women's tennis team resigned in June under the cloud of an investigation into the mistreatment of athletes. It's the third time in less than two years the head coach of a women's sport at the school has left under similar circumstances, something Jonathan Katz, a sports psychologist who has worked with professional and college athletes, called a " disturbing pattern.'' |
| In Todd Petty's 14 seasons coaching the women's tennis team, his success coincided with alleged mistreatment dating to 2014, according to one recent player and eight other former players who spoke to USA TODAY Sports. |
| READ MORE: Texas Tech has 'disturbing pattern' after losing third women's coach in under two years |
| The former tennis players began reaching out to USA TODAY Sports in October 2020, saying they said they wanted Petty forced out but didn't think Texas Tech officials would act on their allegations. But the recent investigation, which the school did not complete, has coincided with Petty's departure. |
| One player, who played at Texas Tech from 2020 to 2022, said she thinks she triggered the recent investigation of Petty in May when she told school officials that Petty did the following: |
| ►Remarked after Kailey Evans, who played at Texas Tech from 2020 to 2022, started dating a Mexican tennis player at Texas Tech, "I thought your type was basic white guys and now you're dating Pablo Escobar." |
| ►Told the player she should wear spandex more after she said her father would prefer she wear something more conservative. |
| ►Screamed so forcefully at another player after practice that the player later said it was the first time she felt like she was "going to be hit by a guy." |
| ►Asked her and another player to eavesdrop when a third player was meeting with officials from the athletics department's compliance office, tasked with ensuring rules are followed. |
| Read our in-depth story on Petty's alleged verbal and mental abuse of players — which he denied in a statement — and the toll it took on those players. |
 | | Marlene Stollings talks to Mia Castaneda during a game played in 2018. | | Brad Tollefson/A-J Media file art | |
More coverage of issues at Texas Tech |
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 | | Texas Tech coach Adrian Gregory in 2018. | | Brad Tollefson, AP | |
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