College Basketball

Quentin Hillsman resigns as Syracuse women’s basketball coach amid misconduct investigation

Quentin Hillsman has resigned as Syracuse University’s women’s basketball coach amid an investigation into allegations of inappropriate behavior.

“The University has accepted Coach Quentin Hillsman’s resignation,” Syracuse athletic director John Wildhack confirmed in a statement on Monday. “Coach Hillsman and I agreed that parting ways is in the best interest of the University, the program and our student-athletes. We wish him and his family all the best.”

Wildhack said an interim coach will be announced “in the coming days.”

When the allegations of misconduct — which include bullying, threatening players, abuse and unwanted physical contact — came to light in June, the University announced it hired an external law firm to review the matter.

Wildhack confirmed in his statement Monday that despite Hillsman’s resignation, the investigation remains ongoing, and the Department of Athletics will address its findings at the conclusion of the investigation.

Quentin Hillsman
Quentin Hillsman was accused of bullying. threatening and abusing his players. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

On June 29, The Athletic published an article in which nine former players and 19 others, including team managers and staff, came forward with a bevy of allegations against Hillsman. At the time, 11 players had transferred from the women’s basketball program — the most amount transfers out of any Division I basketball program, men’s or women’s, this year.

The claims included that Hillman “regularly threatening players verbally, sometimes using vulgar language; making players uncomfortable by kissing their foreheads; hiring a staff member previously accused of sexual harassment who made players and managers uncomfortable; and refusing players’ requests for water after running punishing sprints,” according to the article.

Three of the nine players who spoke to The Athletic reported experiencing suicidal thoughts due to Hillman’s alleged behavior; others reportedly sought therapy.

Ahead of the allegations being made public, Wildhack expressed his support for Hillsman and his “values” in an interview with Syracuse.com

“I totally support him. I support the values that he has for this program. I support the standards that he holds everyone to, regardless of what your high school ranking was, or how good a player you are or how good a player you aren’t,” Wildhack said of Hillsman.

Hillsman joined Syracuse as an assistant in 2005, and in 15 seasons has become the winningest coach in program history, posting a 319-169 record.