Kellie Young Out -- TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

Lacrosse Coach Relieved of Duties

Vince Tyra made his first personnel decision as interim athletic director yesterday as Kellie Young was removed from her position as Louisville's lacrosse coach. The move comes as a bit of a surprise due to the timing. Louisville just completed their fall schedule on Saturday and hosted a community event on the same day. The Cards were set to begin the spring season with a promising freshman class and a strong returning group looking to avenge a first round tournament loss last season. Kellie Young had recently brought a former Cardinal favorite in Faye Brust back as an assistant coach.

To many around the program, though, this firing as not as surprising or abrupt as it may seem on the surface. As many other outlets have reported, rumors of abusive behavior have been numerous, beginning in 2013. Louisville stood behind Young at the time, but the rumors didn't stop. After a fairly normal number of transfers recently, the floodgates opened after this past season ended. After two more transfers this past week, Louisville's roster contains only 13 players from last year's 28 player team. Only four departing players were graduating seniors. For those counting at home, that's 11 transfers out of a program in a single season. That is what many would call an abnormal number.

While it is true that Louisville Lacrosse has seen new heights under Kellie Young, it is undeniable
that she has brought issues to the program as well. In a time of heightened awareness about college coach misbehavior of all kinds, both on a national scale and here at UofL, the whispers regarding Young's coaching tactics have become a bit too loud to ignore. Louisville is in a very precarious position. The University leadership is in flux, as is that of the athletic program. A prominent coach has just been released for failure to appropriately monitor his program at the very least. All eyes are on another prominent coach for the circumstances which returned him to Louisville. Universities all over are answering for the inappropriate behavior of coaches and players in all sports. In short, this was a move that needed to be made, and it could be put off no longer.

The lacrosse team still needs our support. While not a midseason firing, the timing of this change will still be awkward for the players. The assistants may or may not stay in their positions. I hope they are able. The Cards, while losing a large portion of last year's team, could still be strong performers this year. They showed out well during the fall session and have been on the brink of a major breakthrough for quite some time. Whether they use this event as a motivator or as a reason to be completely deflated may come down to how the UofL community rallies around them. Change is here for the Louisville lacrosse team, and for many, change is good.

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(Editor note) Case and I traded article days this week so I could report on field Hockey. Little did we know the Lacrosse situation would fall so soon. He asked me if I wanted the article. I encouraged him to do it. Case is a fine writer and there are only a few I would trust with the tough situation. 

I had to pass on the article. I've followed the program closely since Young arrived. I've done countless interviews with Kellie, her players and many articles over the years. Maybe I feel a little too close to the program to write about it just yet. We developed what I call a "chat-ability" where the conversations flowed free and easy and she benignly tolerated my goofiness I display with the players in interviews at times.  I was fully in Kelly's corner until the end of last season. Then, with the events that occurred and continued to occur...I had to take a step back and go to a neutral corner. 

I just have to ask..."Why, Kellie...why?"  These are student-athletes. They are human beings. These girls have emotions, feelings and vulnerability. Discipline and standards for players to follow are one thing. 

But... 

Alleged verbal and physical abuse, purported tyranny under the guise of team building, disgruntled players and multiple transfers, upset parents, lawsuits, claims of inadequate medical care and hazing are quite another thing and totally unacceptable in college athletics...as well in life.  

Does anyone else needs to go? How much did the administrators, previous sports information directors of the sport, staff and assistants contribute, stifle, hold back on, know or ignore? Or, were they totally unaware also? 

I feel for the players. Current and former. Much more than for the exiled coach...if these allegations are true. 

 Heal, girls.  The UofL fan base IS behind you. 

And...I've nearly written an article in itself here.  These were thoughts on my mind this morning, though, as I read Case's excellent work this morning. 

-Paulie

Cardinal Couple Donation Month

Today is the final day to get an entry in for
this Panera Card drawing. First to identify
these guys is entered. (Note, it is not me,
Case, Jeff and Jared...) 

I put today's donation reminder at the end because I felt the Kellie Young piece was more important as the lead. You, the readers, come to Cardinal Couple for news and a different viewpoint. Even though we weren't the first to break this news, we thank all of you that may come to share your thoughts and feelings on the matter in the comments section. Your comments and engagement in the Cardinal Couple community is what makes this site what it is. We are unable to do this without your support. The donations and pledges that have already been made are amazing and we are extremely thankful for them. Remember that Cardinal Couple is a non-profit, and your donations will go to further our goals, not to fatten our pockets. Please continue to support as you can, and remember that you are Cardinal Couple.

(Paulie....We are up to $550 in received donations with more promised and on the way. A great start but not where we need to be. Thank you to those who have sent, will send and are thinking of sending.) 

Until next time, Go Cards!

-CH-