Battle of the Editors: Which UCLA team had the most disappointing finish to its Big Ten debut?
With just softball and baseball remaining in the postseason hunt, UCLA’s first year in the Big Ten is nearly in the books. From championship glory to painful upsets, this year delivered a full spectrum of highs and heartbreaks for the Bruins. As the year winds down, Daily Bruin Sports editors weigh in on which UCLA […]
With just softball and baseball remaining in the postseason hunt, UCLA’s first year in the Big Ten is nearly in the books. From championship glory to painful upsets, this year delivered a full spectrum of highs and heartbreaks for the Bruins. As the year winds down, Daily Bruin Sports editors weigh in on which UCLA team had the most disappointing finish.
Ira Gorawara Sports editor Team: Men’s basketball
Hope was in short supply for UCLA men’s basketball in the 2023-2024 season – and so were the highlights.
Adem Bona was the lone spark in an otherwise dim campaign – the Bruins treaded water in the Pac-12 and ranked a dismal 152nd in offensive efficiency, with most of the roster unable to crack a 100 offensive rating.
But as the transfer portal tends to do these days, it flipped coach Mick Cronin’s 2024-2025 plans on their head before the season tipped off.
Hype engulfed the Bruins, who had landed key prospects from the portal including veteran Kobe Johnson, four-stars Dominick Harris, Skyy Clark and Tyler Bilodeau – to name a few.
The pieces were there – on paper, at least – enough to fuel preseason optimism in Westwood and talk of a bounce-back year, deep rotation and a chance to make noise in the team’s Big Ten debut.
For a minute, it felt like Cronin pulled off the reset the program desperately craved in the 2024 offseason.
But basketball isn’t played on paper.
Chemistry felt off on Cronin’s unit all season long. Rotations shifted constantly, the offense stalled far too often and what should’ve been a cohesive unit appeared more like a collection of talented strangers.
The defense – usually a Cronin staple – lacked bite, and the late-game execution that once defined his best squads were nowhere to be found.
As the hype train derailed the Bruins’ season, UCLA’s lifeline ended in the Round of 32 of the NCAA Tournament, at the hands of Tennessee at Rupp Arena.
Disjointed offense, untimely turnovers and an abysmal effort from the charity stripe characterized too many postseason games.
For a program that prides itself on postseason pedigree, bowing out in the first weekend – even in a loaded Big Ten transition year – felt like a gut punch.
All the portal moves and preseason buzz fizzled when it mattered most. The disappointment lingers.
Kai Dizon Assistant Sports editor Team: Football
UCLA football’s offensive unit gathers at Penn State’s Beaver Stadium, where the team fell 27-11 to Penn State on Oct. 5. (Aidan Sun/Assistant Photo editor)
Coach DeShaun Foster’s rookie campaign was awry six games into the season, with the Bruins on a five-game losing streak and yet to eclipse 20 points on offense in a single contest.
Then, quarterback Ethan Garbers, who already had nine interceptions at the time, turned in a career day against Rutgers in Piscataway, New Jersey – tossing for 383 yards and four touchdowns in a 35-32 victory for UCLA football.
Foster proclaimed UCLA’s athletic director Martin Jarmond “hired the right guy” after defeating Nebraska 27-20 the following weekend. And against Iowa on Nov. 8, the running game that had been stuck in the trenches all season, exploded for 211 yards in a 20-17 win.
All of a sudden, the Bruins were 4-5, and just needed to win two of their final three contests to make a bowl game.
But Garbers was sacked six times in Seattle and the Bruins’ running backs were held to 40 yards as UCLA fell 31-19 to Washington.
In a do-or-die Battle for the Bell at the Rose Bowl, UCLA floundered again. Garbers had just one touchdown, and despite 99 rushing yards, first-string running back T.J. Harden failed to find paydirt.
The Bruins led 13-9 heading into the final quarter, but the Trojans put up 10 unanswered.
Yes, UCLA closed out the season with a 20-13 win over Fresno State, but I sure didn’t care. And given that it was Thanksgiving break, not many students did either. With a 5-7 record, the Bruin faithful were left with a sour introduction to the Fos Era.
Evidently, many of the team’s players were too.
On top of the players leaving via the NFL Draft or graduation – like Garbers, Carson Schwesinger, Oluwafemi Oladejo and Moliki Matavao – the Bruins lost J.Michael Sturdivant, Logan Loya, Niki Prongos and Harden to the transfer portal as practically every notable name from the 2024 roster would be absent come 2025.
Members of UCLA cross country run the course during warmups. (Courtesy of UCLA Athletics)
The pressure of qualifying for the national championship can make or break a team.
And in 2024, it seemed to have broken UCLA cross country.
Graduate student Michael Mireles carried much of the burden of qualification, earning UCLA’s first-ever podium finish at a Big Ten championship after placing second in the men’s 8K race.
The conference victory seemed like momentum that could have carried Mireles to the national championships, but it quickly slipped away at the NCAA West Regional on Nov. 15.
The men’s team opted to forgo a five-man lineup, forcing Mireles to qualify as an individual. A top-five finish would have punched his ticket to the national championship race.
Mireles looked to be in national-qualifying contention as he sat in fifth with just 1.8 kilometers to go. But at the 9K split, Mireles dropped to 17th and ultimately finished 21st, blowing his chances of going to nationals.
While the competition was stiff, Mireles seemed more than capable of making the cut. Mireles breezed right past Washington’s Nathan Green, Evan Jenkins and Tyrone Gorze, as well as Oregon’s Aiden Smith and Simeon Birnbaum at the Big Ten championships – but fell short to them when it mattered most.
Assistant coach Andrew Ferris blamed inexperience for the graduate student’s shortcomings, but there is still more to come from Mireles – just not as a Bruin.
Mireles has already announced his transfer to Oregon following the end of the outdoor track season, joining one of the teams that dashed his hopes in 2024.
Members of UCLA men’s soccer huddle together on the field at Wallis Annenberg Stadium. (Darlene Sanzon/Assistant Photo editor)
When UCLA men’s soccer fell 1-0 in Westwood to Loyola Marymount in the 2023 NCAA tournament’s second round, many thought the Bruins were destined for revenge come 2024.
Few imagined the Bruins would let the embarrassment of a postseason upset grace Wallis Annenberg Stadium for a second consecutive year.
But that’s exactly what happened.
Despite missing three penalty kicks to fall in the Big Ten tournament semifinals to Michigan, UCLA still managed to earn an at-large bid to 2024’s NCAA tournament, where it faced a UC Santa Barbara team that tied Westmont 2-2 – a squad that UCLA defeated 5-1 just 10 days after Santa Barbara’s draw.
And in keeping with UCLA’s season-long offensive struggles, the Gauchos shut out the Bruins. UCSB outshot UCLA by eight and advanced to the second round after defeating the Bruins 1-0 in Westwood.
Not only did the Bruins fall in dramatic fashion in the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments, but they were also defeated 3-1 at home by Cal State Fullerton and 4-1 by Wisconsin in the regular season.
They also dropped crucial points on untimely goals, conceding two unanswered goals in the final 16 minutes of a 2-2 draw to Penn State and conceding an equalizer in the last 10 minutes to Michigan in a 3-3 tie.
Despite the squad’s deep roster and seven clean sheets, the Bruins failed to capitalize when they were expected to and gave up crucial goals when it mattered most.
Una O’Farrell Assistant Sports editor Team: Women’swaterpolo
Members of UCLA women’s water polo stand at the side of the pool before their semifinal in Indianapolis. (Anna Dai-Liu/Daily Bruin senior staff)
Pulling off an undefeated season – one that resulted in the first national championship in 15 years for UCLA women’s water polo – is a hefty feat, almost impossible to replicate.
A 1.000 winning percentage wasn’t necessarily coach Adam Wright’s top priority heading into the 2025 season – earning back-to-back national titles was.
And with the return of two of the 2024’s roster’s top three scorers and ACWPC National Player of the Year sophomore goalkeeper Lauren Steele, along with the addition of two-time All-American junior center Bia Mantellato, it seemed the 2025 Bruins were well-poised to make a return to glory.
But the team struggled with early losses, with a 14-4 defeat to Stanford, 2025’s eventual national champions, marking UCLA’s worst loss differential since 2010.
The Cardinal handed the Bruins’ half of its 2025 losses, but maybe the most gut-wrenching of the trio came in an overtime defeat for the MPSF crown.
And with Stanford and UCLA sitting on opposite sides of the NCAA tournament’s bracket, many predicted the two to meet again in Indianapolis.
But the reigning MPSF and NCAA champions were unable to even make the title match after suffering a 15-13 loss to the Trojans, sending the Bruins home without the opportunity to defend their national title.
In 2024, Wright said that the Bruins were “back on the map.” But just less than a year later, they’d fall just short of the very greatness they swore would become a habit.
Members of UCLA women’s basketball meet during a timeout of its Final Four match against UConn. (Aidan Sun/Assistant Photo editor)
Twelve weeks atop the AP regular season poll was not enough.
The first No. 1 seed in program history was not enough.
The first Final Four appearance in NCAA history was not enough.
Despite a year stacked with accolades, awards and trophies, UCLA women’s basketball was unable to take home the biggest reward – a NCAA championship.
While the Final Four outing doesn’t undermine the ground-breaking successes of the program, the nature of the loss makes for the most disappointing season end. All eyes were on UCLA to bring home a national championship, but they were upset by a No. 2 seed UConn.
It was more than an upset – it felt like a complete obliteration. The Huskies’ 85-51 over the Bruins marked the largest winning margin in NCAA Final Four history.
After UCLA maintained a perfect record against all schools except USC, it fell to a new foe. The Huskies were able to shut down junior center Lauren Betts, forcing the ball to a thoroughly defended perimeter.
“We wanted to take away their 3s, but we also wanted to make things hard for Lauren Betts,” said former UConn star guard Paige Bueckers.
And that is exactly what the Huskies did.
Only four Bruins scored in the first half. Only three players put up points from the field until the final quarter. UCLA put up just 13 points in the final 10 minutes of its season, as UConn ran away with a 34-point win.
And in the meantime, UCLA students gathered in Pauley Pavilion watched their team crumble.
Next season presents another opportunity for the Bruins to bring home the trophy. And if they don’t, may their fall be more graceful.
IOC President Thomas Bach Thanks Athletes In Farewell Speech Before Tenure Ends
The end of the Thomas Bach era as president of the International Olympic Committee is near. The 71-year-old Bach will officially step aside after nearly 12 years in the role on Sunday, announcing last summer that he wouldn’t seek an extension after his current term officially expires. In a video on olympics.com, Bach thanked athletes […]
The end of the Thomas Bach era as president of the International Olympic Committee is near.
The 71-year-old Bach will officially step aside after nearly 12 years in the role on Sunday, announcing last summer that he wouldn’t seek an extension after his current term officially expires.
In a video on olympics.com, Bach thanked athletes for their support and dedication, especially in challenging times such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
“You stood strong and touched our hearts,” Bach said. “You showed in the best possible way that what unites us is stronger than what divides us.”
Bach also said the Olympic movement “is in good hands,” with new IOC president Kirsty Coventry, the first woman and African to be elected president.
Coventry, 41, a former competitive swimmer from Zimbabwe, will take over the role on Sunday. She was elected to an eight-year term.
“She understands your hopes and your challenges because she has lived them herself,” Bach said. “She will keep athletes at the center of everything.”
Bach defended the decision of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to clear 23 swimmers from China who tested positive in 2021 for a banned substance due to food contamination from their hotel kitchen.
At last summer’s Paris Olympics, Bach threatened to take away the 2034 Winter Olympics from Salt Lake City if the U.S. government didn’t end investigations and probes into WADA for its handling of the case.
Bach was initially elected to an eight-year term as IOC president in 2013, but then was elected to another four-year term in 2021 before reaching the limit of his term per a charter he helped write.
Some IOC members tried to convince Bach to seek a waiver so he could pursue another term, but he opted to step aside instead.
Bach won a gold medal for Germany at the 1976 Montreal Olympics in fencing.
Bach’s tenure might be best known for his measures to reform the bidding process for host cities in an effort to curtail astronomical costs.
Instead of having a bidding process for the 2024 Summer Olympics between Paris and Los Angeles, he proposed a joint awarding of the 2024 Games to Paris and the 2028 Games to Los Angeles, which the IOC approved.
The 2030 Winter Olympics in the French Alps, the 2032 Summer Olympics in Brisbane and the 2034 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City were also awarded to those cities without traditional bid processes.
USA Women Beat Spain 9-8 To Begin Exhibition Series
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Irvine, CA – June 20 – The USA Women’s National Team beat Spain 9-8 tonight at William Woollett Aquatics Center. Jenna Flynn led the charge for Team USA with three goals while Amanda Longan went the distance in net to record 13 saves. Team USA will play against Spain again on Sunday afternoon […]
Irvine, CA – June 20 – The USA Women’s National Team beat Spain 9-8 tonight at William Woollett Aquatics Center. Jenna Flynn led the charge for Team USA with three goals while Amanda Longan went the distance in net to record 13 saves. Team USA will play against Spain again on Sunday afternoon at Long Beach City College at 4:00pm et/1:00pm pt. Tickets to the match are available here. The match will stream LIVE on Overnght with stats from 6-8 Sports.
Team USA and Spain were locked in an old school defensive battle in this contest. The United States struck first from Rachel Gazzaniga on a counter attack and then Bea Ortiz leveled the score for Spain. Midway through the opening frame, Anna Pearson earned a penalty and Flynn converted from five meters for a 2-1 lead which stood at the end of one. The second period remained scoreless until Flynn was able to find the back of the net on a power play courtesy of Tara Prentice. Daniela Moreno cut the deficit in half for Spain before Gazzaniga put away her second goal to push the lead back to two. Paula Camus would respond for the visitors on the ensuing possession to make the score 4-3 in favor of Team USA at halftime.
The low-scoring feud continued into the third quarter with great saves from both goalkeepers. Nearly three minutes in, Jovana Sekulic earned an exclusion and Emma Lineback fired one into the back of the net on a player-advantage. Five more minutes went by before Anni Espar scored on a counter attack for Spain to leave the score at 5-4 for the United States entering the final frame. In the fourth, both offenses picked up their games. First, Ryann Neushul converted on a penalty attempt before Moreno scored on a Spanish power play, Elena Ruiz put one away on a penalty try, and Alba Muñoz rang the register during a 6-on-5 opportunity for Spain’s first lead of the game. Flynn and Pearson responded with back-to-back power play goals to regain the American edge prior to Ari Ruiz knotting things back up with just under two minutes to play. Team USA had control of the ball had looked to Pearson in set who drew two exclusions in quick succession leaving Neushul open to step up and put away the game-winner. In an attempt to tie the score late, Spain would not get a shot off and the United States claimed a 9-8 victory.
Team USA went 6/18 on power plays and 1/2 on penalties while Spain went 3/11 on power plays and 1/1 on penalties.
Scoring – Stats
USA 9 (2, 2, 1, 4) J. Flynn 3, R. Neushul 2, R. Gazzaniga 2, E. Lineback 1, A. Pearson 1
ESP 8 (1, 2, 1, 4) D. Moreno 2, A. Ruiz 1, A. Espar 1, B. Ortiz 1, E. Ruiz 1, P. Camus 1, A. Muñoz 1
Westmoreland Elite team to play in national girls volleyball tournament
It has been a season to remember for the Westmoreland Elite 14 Purple girls volleyball team. The squad began playing in October and honed its game throughout the year to make history. The 14 Purple team qualified for the 2025 USAV Girls Junior National Championship, becoming just the second team from Westmoreland Elite to play […]
It has been a season to remember for the Westmoreland Elite 14 Purple girls volleyball team. The squad began playing in October and honed its game throughout the year to make history.
The 14 Purple team qualified for the 2025 USAV Girls Junior National Championship, becoming just the second team from Westmoreland Elite to play in a national tournament. The team will travel to Dallas on June 24-29 to compete in the Freedom division, the sixth tier of the championship.
Coach Gene Larson has overseen his players’ development throughout the season. He has coached volleyball for 45 years, including Westmoreland Elite teams for 10 of those years.
The team embarked on the season with unimpressive finishes of 19th in the Frozen Lake Festival in Sandusky, Ohio, and 16th in the Steel City Freeze in Pittsburgh. Larson thought his players were capable of performing better.
“Early on, we struggled a bit because … we have young players,” Larson said. “After our first couple of tournaments, we started competing.”
The team then strung together two of its best tournament results. It was runner-up in the gold division of the Athletix tournament in Columbiana, Ohio, and it took first in the Erie Sports Center tournament in consecutive weeks to set an improved tone for the season.
The team was playing its best volleyball entering the Lucky Charm tournament in Harrisburg. That was important because finishing third in that tournament allowed it to qualify for the national championship.
Outside hitter Lilah Mrdjenovich has been a key player this year and was a major reason why the team could reach the national tournament.
“She’s been our most consistent player all year long, definitely led us in kills, probably blocking and serving and likely led us in passing every tournament,” Larson said. “We’ve had some all-around good players, but she has been our leader.”
Mrdjenovich, middle blocker Rylee Hestin and setter Lexi Temple are three prominent players in the lineup from Penn-Trafford.
“Penn-Trafford has a strong middle and high school program,” Larson said. “It is nice to get girls from that background.”
Larson also noted that defensive specialist Sofia Weimer and setter Clare Audia, who are both from Hempfield, are key players.
“I hope they’re competitive in every set of every match. … The reality is, at nationals, you can play well in every match and still not win because it’s a really strong tournament,” Larson said. “I haven’t set any expectations, except (to) play how we’ve been practicing.”
In 1978, Larson started playing volleyball in California, and he began coaching in 1980. He came to Pittsburgh to play volleyball at Pitt. The Trinity Christian School coach also played on and coached gold medal-winning teams at the Keystone State Games, so it is far from surprising his 14 Purple team qualified for the national championship.
“Volleyball is one of the defining areas in my life,” Larson said.
The other time one of the club’s teams made the girls junior national championship was the Westmoreland Elite 17 Black team in 2021.
“We’re a really strong team. We’ve had fun throughout,” Larson said. “I think our strengths are serving and timely hitting. (I’m) so proud of the girls for accomplishing this feat.”
Matthew Purucker is a TribLive staff writer. You can reach Matthew at mpurucker@triblive.com.
Cincinnati Enquirer fall high school athletes of the year 2024-2025
Watch highlights from the 2025 Enquirer High School Sports Awards Take a look at highlights from the 2025 Enquirer High School Sports Awards, presented by Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, June 18 at Princeton. In a vote that ended June 20, Cincinnati.com readers selected the Enquirer/Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine Athletes of the Year for […]
Watch highlights from the 2025 Enquirer High School Sports Awards
Take a look at highlights from the 2025 Enquirer High School Sports Awards, presented by Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, June 18 at Princeton.
In a vote that ended June 20, Cincinnati.com readers selected the Enquirer/Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine Athletes of the Year for the 2024-2025 fall season.
The Enquirer placed the athlete of the week winners from all fall sports into one ballot per category. Here are the readers’ choices for winners.
The winter athletes of the year voting will begin Monday, June 23, and the spring vote will be Monday, June 30.
Ohio football team of the year: Batavia
Northern Kentucky/Indiana football team of the year: Bishop Brossart
Boys fall team of the year: Villa Madonna cross country
Girls fall team of the year: Villa Madonna volleyball
Ohio boys cross-country athlete of the year: Caden Winship, Mason
Northern Kentucky/Indiana boys cross-country athlete of the year: Mark Antrobus, Villa Madonna
Ohio girls cross-country athlete of the year: Sophia France, Little Miami
Northern Kentucky/Indiana girls cross-country athlete of the year: Ellie Frey, Conner
Boys golfer of the year: Cayse Morgan, Elder
Girls golfer of the year: Eva Becerril, Sycamore
Field hockey athlete of the year: Chloe Castellini, Summit Country Day
Ohio big-school football player of the year: Caden Piening, Anderson
Ohio small-school football player of the year: Elijah Guttman, Cincinnati Country Day
Ohio big-school boys soccer player of the year: Brody Sucher, Kings
Ohio small-school boys soccer player of the year: Clemente Volk, Summit Country Day
Ohio big-school girls soccer player of the year: Emma Hartmann, Little Miami
Ohio small-school girls soccer player of the year: Ayla Jodrey, Bethel-Tate
Northern Kentucky/Indiana boys soccer player of the year: Parker Monson, Simon Kenton
Northern Kentucky/Indiana girls soccer player of the year: Rachel Shewmaker, Bishop Brossart
Ohio girls tennis player of the year: Lucy Glassmeyer, Mariemont
Ohio big-school girls volleyball player of the year: Malia Brinkman, Mount Notre Dame
Ohio small-school girls volleyball player of the year: Savanna Stacey, McNicholas
Northern Kentucky/Indiana girls volleyball player of the year: Victoria Sebald, Villa Madonna
Water polo player of the year: Marco DiLoreto, Mason
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LORMAN, Miss. – Gabrielle Harris has been named the Interim Head Volleyball Coach at Alcorn State University for the 2025 season. We are excited to announce Gabrielle Harris as the new interim head coach of Alcorn State Volleyball. Coach Harris has demonstrated strong leadership, a deep understanding of the game, and […]
LORMAN, Miss. – Gabrielle Harris has been named the Interim Head Volleyball Coach at Alcorn State University for the 2025 season.
We are excited to announce Gabrielle Harris as the new interim head coach of Alcorn State Volleyball. Coach Harris has demonstrated strong leadership, a deep understanding of the game, and an unwavering commitment to the growth of our student-athletes both on and off the court. Her passion and energy are exactly what we need as we continue building a competitive and culture-driven program. We’re confident she will lead our team with integrity, vision, and purpose during this important transition.” — E. Dwayne Robinson, Director of Athletics, Alcorn State University
She previously served as the Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator during the 2024 season. In that role, Harris was responsible for coordinating the offense, conducting opponent scouting, and overseeing player development. She also assisted with program operations, including but not limited to managing team travel.
Most recently, Harris was selected as a recipient of the 2024 AVCA Diversity Award by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. This prestigious program mentors and develops emerging volleyball leaders through a series of educational seminars focused on both professional and personal growth. Her attendance at the AVCA Convention was proudly sponsored by the Big Ten Conference.
Before joining Alcorn, Harris served as the Assistant Volleyball Coach and Director of Student Involvement at Tennessee Wesleyan University. While in Athens, she also worked as a Master Coach at Victory Volleyball Academy, where she supported organizational development and mentored fellow coaches. Additionally, she gained valuable experience through a graduate internship with the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Volleyball Program.
A former collegiate athlete, Harris played for Tennessee Wesleyan University, where she later transitioned into a coaching role following her playing career.
In 2024, Harris earned a Master of Science in Sports Administration from Arkansas State University. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science and Physical Education, which she completed in May 2022.
What They’re Saying About Coach Harris
“I am thrilled for Gabby and even more excited for Alcorn State. Gabby is one of the most passionate coaches I have come across in the last few years. Her light shines through in every conversation. The athletes in her program will have a tremendous experience with her at the helm.” –Jen Flynn Oldenburg, AVCA President/Ohio State University Head Coach
“Coach Harris embodies leader, mentor, and coach. I am eager to witness her personal and professional trajectory as she takes on this assignment with Alcorn State women’s volleyball! I am confident in her ability to immerse herself into the role and lead the Braves’ program with vision and excellence.” –Mr. Kennedy D. Wells, Director of Membership, American Volleyball Coaches Association
“Gabby is on the fast track in the coaching world. She’s earned every opportunity through her work ethic, commitment to learning, and passion for the game. I’m excited to see where her coaching journey takes her – this is just the beginning.” –Julie Torbett-Thomas, University of Tennessee Chattanooga, Director of Volleyball
“Congratulations to Coach Harris on her new title as Interim Head Coach! Gabby has a genuine passion for the game and a strong understanding of how to develop her players on and off the court. Her grit and determination are qualities that make her a great leader. I’m so excited to see her lead and build a successful program!” – Kylie Whaley, Tennessee Wesleyan University Head Coach
#FearTheBrave
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For complete coverage of Alcorn State Athletics news, please follow the Braves on Twitter (@BravesSports), Instagram (@AlcornSports) and YouTube (Alcorn State Sports) or visit the official home of the Alcorn State Athletics at (alcornsports.com)
Chico Unified School District Board of Education upholds decision on girls volleyball coach Chas Konopka | News
CHICO, Calif. – The Chico Unified School District Board of Education has upheld a previous decision regarding a complaint against a girls volleyball coach. In a meeting on Wednesday night, the board voted unanimously to maintain the Chico Unified School District’s earlier decision not to remove Coach Chas Konopka, following an investigation. A letter from […]
CHICO, Calif. – The Chico Unified School District Board of Education has upheld a previous decision regarding a complaint against a girls volleyball coach.
In a meeting on Wednesday night, the board voted unanimously to maintain the Chico Unified School District’s earlier decision not to remove Coach Chas Konopka, following an investigation.
A letter from the superintendent in late May informed parents of the decision. The letter also mentioned steps taken to prevent similar complaints in the future.
Families had appealed the original decision that was made back in late April.
Seven players attended the board meeting to rally support for their appeal. One parent told Action News Now that 90% of returning players will not try out this season with Konopka remaining as the volleyball coach.
The Chico Unified School District stated that they have identified areas for improvement within the school athletic programs.
The athletic staff for the 2025-26 school year will receive additional training on best practices for interacting with student-athletes.
*AI assisted with the formatting of this story. Click here to see how Action News Now uses AI*
