Editor’s Note: This article has been edited to add the full statement from the Idaho Athletic Department. The Argonaut will have more in-depth coverage of this story once the Spring 2024 semester begins.
Chris Gonzalez, the head coach of the University of Idaho women’s volleyball team, is currently under investigation for allegations of abuse made by current and former players.
The allegations against Gonzalez were originally published in the Orange County Register based on accounts from six players on the 2023 roster, three former players and a UI employee. They stated that Gonzalez “physically abused and bullied players, pressured injured players to play and train against the orders of the school’s sports medicine staff, regularly deprived players of food on road trips, body shamed players, made racially insensitive and inappropriate comments to players, and pressured sports medicine staff to share confidential information about players’ weight.”
According to the official statement from UI, an investigation around legal issues started in November and has been expanded to include climate and culture concerns. The investigation was delayed at the request of those who filed complaints in order to finish the season. An outside investigative team has been asked to expedite the investigation, but the university doesn’t want to sacrifice quality for speed.
That statement also includes that Gonzalez is fully cooperating, and that the goal is to “ensure we understand the concerns, act on any findings and work to rebuild an effective and supportive volleyball culture.”
The full official statement sent out by the Idaho Athletic Deparment:
The University of Idaho is deeply concerned about the allegations brought by some members of the women’s volleyball team against their coach, Chris Gonzalez. As a result, an investigation started in November around legal issues and has been expanded to include climate and culture concerns. The start of the investigation was delayed at the request of those who filed the complaints, in order to finish the season.
An outside investigative team is doing the investigation, in which Coach Gonzalez is fully cooperating. While they have been asked to expedite the investigation, we also do not want to forego quality for speed.
Our goal is to ensure we understand the concerns, act on any findings and work to rebuild an effective and supportive volleyball culture.
James Taurman-Aldrich can be reached at [email protected] or on X @jamesaldrich25