Softball coach fired after complaints
by Jonathan Zimmerman
Sports Editor
Sports | 9/5/06
Posted online at 2:59 AM EST on 9/5/06
Mary Sullivan, who was the longest-tenured coach at the University after 32 years of heading up the women's softball program, left the team Thursday, according to Athletic Director Sheryl Sousa.
Although Sousa declined to comment on the nature of Sullivan's departure, players said she was fired after numerous complaints they lodged last spring.
"We weren't [complaining] with the intention of getting [Sullivan] fired," leftfielder Marissa Rubin '07 said. "We were just looking for some things to change."
In the 2003 season, the team finished last place in the United Athletic Association with a 9-27 overall record. Last season, the team was 20-24, finishing fourth out of five teams in the UAA.
Sullivan confirmed that she was dismissed from the team.
"You can't improve overnight," Sullivan said in a phone interview about her dismissal. "I feel the team improved a hundred percent [in the last four seasons], and believe [this year's team] will start from 20 wins and work their way up."
Sullivan, the 1993 New England Women's 8 coach of the year and head coach since the team's founding in 1974, expressed displeasure with the athletic department, saying that her termination was handled "poorly" and "took all summer."
Pitcher Danielle Mayer '08, catcher Caitlin Lucas '07, centerfielder Amelia Schimmel '08 and Rubin said they approached Sousa at the end of last season with complaints about Sullivan's player management, her in-game coaching and the team's overall lack of improvement.
Additionally, Mayer said players expressed their complaints about Sullivan on evaluation forms handed to each player at the end of the season.
"As a team, we all want to have a winning season, and it becomes frustrating to lose games the same way over and over," Rubin said. "There were obvious mistakes that were being repeated over and over, and we just got sick of it."
Despite the nature of the complaints, players said they did not intend to get Sullivan fired.
Although Sousa declined to comment on the nature of Sullivan's departure, players said she was fired after numerous complaints they lodged last spring.
"We weren't [complaining] with the intention of getting [Sullivan] fired," leftfielder Marissa Rubin '07 said. "We were just looking for some things to change."
In the 2003 season, the team finished last place in the United Athletic Association with a 9-27 overall record. Last season, the team was 20-24, finishing fourth out of five teams in the UAA.
Sullivan confirmed that she was dismissed from the team.
"You can't improve overnight," Sullivan said in a phone interview about her dismissal. "I feel the team improved a hundred percent [in the last four seasons], and believe [this year's team] will start from 20 wins and work their way up."
Sullivan, the 1993 New England Women's 8 coach of the year and head coach since the team's founding in 1974, expressed displeasure with the athletic department, saying that her termination was handled "poorly" and "took all summer."
Pitcher Danielle Mayer '08, catcher Caitlin Lucas '07, centerfielder Amelia Schimmel '08 and Rubin said they approached Sousa at the end of last season with complaints about Sullivan's player management, her in-game coaching and the team's overall lack of improvement.
Additionally, Mayer said players expressed their complaints about Sullivan on evaluation forms handed to each player at the end of the season.
"As a team, we all want to have a winning season, and it becomes frustrating to lose games the same way over and over," Rubin said. "There were obvious mistakes that were being repeated over and over, and we just got sick of it."
Despite the nature of the complaints, players said they did not intend to get Sullivan fired.
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