In the past 35 years the University of Kentucky’s cheerleading program has won 24 NAtional Championships. Now Sandy Bell, executive associate athletics director for UK, has taken over the program and is looking for new coaching staff after the University of Kentucky fired all four of its cheerleading coaches following a three-month investigation into hazing. This includes a national search for a new head coach.

UK President Eli Capilouto released a statement saying, “The University of Kentucky has built the nation’s premier collegiate cheerleading program. But regrettably, the integrity of the program has been compromised by inappropriate behavior by some squad members on off-campus trips and by lax oversight by the program’s coaches and advisor.”

A family member of a cheerleader contacted a faculty member and raised concerns about the cheerleading program. The faculty member made a written report of the family member’s concerns to the Dean of Students which provided:

“I received a call from XXXXXXX regarding the cheerleading team. She informed me that the squad was on a boat, drinking was involved, and the cheerleaders were encouraged to go topless. She also said during the retreat in [Tennessee], the cheerleaders were required to stand up on a table and sing a song that had major sexual content. After they sang it once, they were encouraged to sing it again with their clothes off. She said both [the cheerleading advisor] T. Lynn [Williamson] and the head coach, [Jomo Thompson] were there. She said that a previous assistant coach, Debbie [Love] videotaped this as one point but was forced to remove the video from her phone.”

Initial interim measures were put in place pending investigation of the family member’s concerns, including prohibiting coaches from traveling with cheerleaders and instead sending a non-coach chaperone to travel with the team, and directing the cheerleader advisor to not interact with cheerleaders pending the investigation. During the investigation as additional information came to light, the Office for Institutional Equity and Equal Opportunity recommended suspension pending the investigation. The University’s Vice President for Human Resources concurred in that recommendation.

During the investigation, an attorney came forward on behalf of two cheerleaders. The attorney advised university officials of concerns from one of his clients and that the other had confirmed those concerns. The Office of Institutional Equity and Equal Opportunity (“OIEEO”) and the Office of Student Conduct interviewed 54 cheerleaders. The University made efforts to contact those team members who missed their interviews and who did not reschedule. The OIEEO and Human Resources interviewed the coaches and the advisor.

The investigation found coaching staff and the administrative advisor failed to provide reasonable oversight during off-campus events, where members of the cheerleading squad included hazing activities, alcohol use and public nudity.

The investigation also found T. Lynn Williamson, who served as the cheerleading program’s advisor for four decades, had lax oversight and poor judgement.

Williamson retired days after learning of the investigation. Williamson was directed to have no contact with the cheerleading squad.

The coaches dismissed were Head Coach Jomo Thompson, Assistant Coaches Ben Head, Spencher Clan and Kelsey LaCroix.

UK Provost David W. Blackwell said the review found:

• During a team retreat at Lake Cumberland, some cheerleaders performed gymnastic routines including hurling their teammates from a dock into the water while either topless or bottomless. These routines, known as “basket tosses,” were done at the direction of other members of the squad and within the view of a t least some of the coaches.
• Coaches allowed cheerleading alumni to bring boats and alcohol to the retreat, where some cheerleaders were partially naked and/or drinking while riding on boats.
• Coaches did not confiscate alcohol brought to the retreat by some squad members or intervene to stop students from drinking. Several members became so drunk they required medical treatment.
• During a cheerleading camp in Tennessee, some cheerleaders were told by other members of the squad to perform lewd chants and wear outfits that did not include underwear.

The investigation found no evidence of sexual assault or sexual misconduct during the trips.

In addition, the investigation also uncovered potential conflicts of interest for two members of the coaching staff.

The staff ran gymnastics businesses that employed members of the cheerleading squad and the advisor. who hired students and coaches to perform work at their home. The Official of Internal Audit is reviewing and other financial practices of the cheerleading squad.

Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart said Sandy Bell, executive associate athletics director, is currently leading the program.

Athletics officials met yesterday with current members of the current squad to share the news and discuss the timeline for hiring and tryouts. UK said it will immediately begin searching for a new head coach for the 2020-21 team.