The Associated Press
STATE COLLEGE — Penn State fined women’s basketball coach Rene Portland $10,000 after concluding she violated university policy in her alleged hostile treatment of a player who was perceived to be gay.
The university said Portland would be dismissed for any future violation of the school’s nondiscrimination policy. She was also ordered to take professional development “devoted to diversity and inclusiveness.�
The university released the results of the investigation Tuesday.
At a news conference, Portland read from a statement in which she said she disagreed with the ruling and that the conclusions were flawed. She said would return as Penn State coach next season, but declined to answer any questions.
The school began the investigation after a former player, Jennifer Harris, alleged that Portland had harassed her and told her she needed to look “more feminine.�
The school said it concluded Portland created a “hostile, intimidating and offensive environment� based on Harris’ perceived sexual orientation. Harris has said that she is not gay, but was perceived to be gay by Portland.
Harris, who is black, later filed a lawsuit in federal court in which she said Portland, who is white, also discriminated against her because of her race.
The school said it found no evidence that Portland discriminated against Harris on the basis of race.
In response to the sexual discrimimination findings, Portland said, “I believe the process to reach these conclusions was flawed.�
“I believe the process failed to fairly consider and weigh all of the relevant information provided or which could have been provided,� Portland said.
The allegations from Harris surfaced in October, just before the start of preseason practices.
“I was confronted with what I continue to believe are unfounded claims that I caused a player to lave the Lady Lions team because of her race and alleged perceptions of sexual orientation,� Portland said.
After the news conference, Portland walked out of the Bryce Jordan Center conference room, accompanied by family and assistant coaches back to her office.
Harris left school last year and transferred to James Madison in Virginia. Portland maintains that Harris’ departure was purely related to basketball issues.
Portland has led Penn State to 21 NCAA tournament appearances, a Final Four appearance in 2000 and five Big Ten regular-season titles. In 2005-06, the team finished 13-16, the school’s worst record in Portland’s 26-year tenure at Penn State.
Portland has a career record of 575-209. She in under contact with Penn State through 2009.
The internal report into the allegations was conducted by the school’s affirmative action office. According to the school statement, the report recommended a one-game suspension this fall.
“President Spanier felt it necessary to have a sanction that was more immediate� and chose to impose the $10,000 fine instead, the statement said.
Spanier also said there would NCAA-mandated exit interviews of Portland’s players for three years conducted by a member of the school’s affirmative action office, and ordered athletic director Tim Curley to review the university’s nondiscrimination policy with his department this fall.
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