All eyes are on Prairie View A&M University after the firing of women’s basketball head coach Dawn Brown. Coach Brown suspended two of her players after enforcing a rule that according to the University violates Title IX. Title IX states that: No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.
The suspended players filed a Title IX discrimination complaint against their former coach alleging that they were discriminated against based on their sexual orientation. After further investigation the University sided with the students and stated that the players were in fact removed from the team because they were in a dating relationship and that they experienced discrimination because of their sexual orientation. The University also says the team rule violated Title IX as well as Texas A&M system policy.
However Coach Brown seems to think differently. She cited that the rule was created after an assistant coach was having an inappropriate relationship with a student player. Brown said the decision to remove the players “was extremely difficult for me but was made with consultation, encouragement and approval” of the athletics director.
Coach Brown also insists that she consulted with the schools title IX coordinator and athletic director before making her final decision. “Clearly, I feel betrayed and unjustly penalized by this action,” Brown said. She has decided to appeal the decision and is fighting to get back to coaching her team to another SWAC championship appearance next season.
