Coach Faces Lawsuits Over Alleged Harassment and Retaliation

A group of six former University of Pittsburgh women’s basketball players have filed individual suits against head coach Tory Verdi and the university. They claim that Verdi fostered a hostile environment, used psychological abuse, and retaliated after the players raised concerns. The complaints are lodged in a federal court in Pittsburgh and touch on Title IX violations, emotional distress, breach of scholarship contracts, and negligent supervision. The plaintiffs—Favor Ayodele, Raeven Boswell, Makayla Elmore, Brooklynn Miles, Isabella Perkins and Jasmine Timmerson—were all on Division I scholarships. They say Verdi promised an inclusive team culture but delivered public humiliation, arbitrary playtime cuts, exclusion from events, favoritism and offensive comments about appearance and performance. Perkins, now at Boston College, alleges that after she complained Verdi removed her from the roster without due process and delayed her redshirt request until she hired a lawyer.University spokesperson Jared Stonesifer dismissed the claims as “without merit” and stated that Pitt would defend itself vigorously. Yet the lawsuits allege that university staff knew of the complaints and did nothing, allowing a climate of fear to persist. The lawyers for the players argue that this inaction, coupled with Verdi’s tactics, created an emotionally destabilizing culture. Specific accusations include a practice remark that Verdi told the team he “wanted to kill himself” over them, and claims that he tried to split players by race. The suit also accuses Verdi of intentionally pitting white and Black teammates against each other, fostering division. Verdi was hired in April 2023 by former Athletic Director Heather Lyke, with whom he had previously worked at Eastern Michigan. He spent seven years coaching at UMass before joining Pitt, whose women’s team last appeared in the NCAA tournament in 2015. The current season has seen the squad finish 8‑17 overall and 1‑11 in the ACC, with eight straight losses. The plaintiffs seek monetary damages and a declaration that Pitt violated Title IX. Their claims highlight the tension between athletic performance pressures and student‑athlete welfare, urging a reevaluation of coaching conduct standards.