LOUDONVILLE — Siena College announced Thursday that it has opened an investigation into allegations that women’s basketball coach Jim Jabeel made racist and misogynistic remarks.
Athletic director John Dalgenio and school principal Chris Gibson, the mother of former Siena basketball player Simone Walker, said in an email sent to Jabir on Wednesday night that Jabir was a member of the team’s media day on Oct. 18. , saying, “Where’s the Blacks?” .
Walker’s mother, Melissa Richberg, also accused Jabil of calling an unnamed player a “bitch” at least once.
“We have received correspondence and are taking these accusations seriously,” Dalgenio said in an email to the Times-Union. The first step was to refer the issue to the university’s Title IX office.”
Dalgenio announced Thursday that he has decided to withdraw from coaching the team “in the best interest of the program” until an investigation is completed. I was to lead the team from the night game of
“(Jabier) does not want to distract student-athletes and I support his decision,” Dalgenio said.
Richberg said Walker spoke to his father, Charles Walker, about the alleged comments.
“If true, such exclusive and discriminatory language does not exist anywhere, especially in college sports team sports with impressive students,” Richberg said in an email to school leaders. Stated.
Jabir did not respond to calls or texts seeking comment.
Jabeel announced Wednesday afternoon that junior guard Walker and sophomore forward Riley Carpenter had left the team.
“I think the work they put in wasn’t the same amount of time they thought they’d get,” Jabir said Wednesday.
However, Charles Walker said it was not his daughter’s decision to leave the team. He declined to elaborate. Efforts to contact Simone Walker were unsuccessful.
Charles Walker said Dalgenio was already in contact with Richberg. Walker said Sienna plans to speak with his daughter as well.
“I would like to wait (to comment),” Charles Walker told the Times Union. “I’m going to give Sienna a chance to talk to us and see what they say.”
Jabir, 60, is in his second year on his second assignment at Loudonville. From 1987 he coached Siena until 1990 before attending Marquette University in Wisconsin.
He returned to the Saints after playing in Providence, Dayton and the Florida Atlantic last year. Replacing Alijak, whose contract was not renewed after the 2020-21 season, Jabil led Siena to his 10-19 record last season.
The Saints went into the rider game at 6-5.
Jabir’s career record is 530-470. His wife, Angie, is Siena’s Senior Associate Athletic Director/Senior Women’s Administrator.
This is the third time this year that a local Division I college coach has been accused of abusing a player.union college hockey coach Rick Bennett resigned in January After a school survey of his coaching style and practice.
University of Albany Men’s Basketball Coach Dwayne Killings suspended for 5 games This season for inappropriate physical contact with a player from last season. He is also facing lawsuits from that player, Luke Fizrich, who is no longer in the program.
