Miami of Ohio women’s basketball coach DeUnna Hendrix stepped down on Wednesday, amidst a potentially career ending scandal, Media Take Out has learned.
Embed from Getty ImagesAccording to new reports from local media, reviewed by Media Take Out, DeUnna reportedly resigned from the position after coming under investigation for an alleged inappropriate relationship she had with a female player on the team.
The school began looking into the situation after Athletic Director David Sayler became aware of a series of intimate text messages exchanged between DeUnna and the student athlete.
The correspondence included a “string of over 180 text messages spanning an 11-day period.” According to a new story in The Athletic, more than 30 of those messages were intimate in nature.
DeUnna allegedly told the unnamed player, “I love you” and “You’re my baby.” The messages also include the player “professing her love for Hendrix.”
Miami suspended DeUnna on April 20 after learning about the relationship. School officials told players on the women’s basketball team their coach was under review for “personal matters.”
Embed from Getty ImagesFollowing its review, the school concluded the matter wasn’t a violation of Title IX or the University’s s*xual Misconduct protocol …. wha???
However, “There was sufficient information to pursue the termination process for violation of the university’s policy on staff members pursuing or engaging in a consensual amorous relationship with any Miami undergraduate students and breach of contract.”
DeUnna left the job voluntarily on April 26 after four seasons as the Miami RedHawks women’s basketball coach.
“I can’t express the amount of gratitude I have for this prestigious institution and its leadership,” Hendrix said. “I also want to thank the Oxford community for the continual love and support.”