THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, April 5, 1996 TAG: 9604050603
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium: 56 lines
Peggy Sells resigned Wednesday as Virginia Commonwealth University's women's basketball coach after one season on the job amid reports of discontent among her players.
Sells, 26, became the youngest head coach in Division I women's basketball when she was hired in August after winning 80 games in three years at South Carolina-Spartanburg.
But VCU players apparently soured on her strict disciplinary measures, which reportedly included taping a player's mouth shut during practice.
VCU athletic director Richard Sander confirmed that four players had inquired about transferring. Two other players, including a starter, left the team in late 1995.
Sander said Sells' resignation was effective Wednesday, and the university's search for her successor began immediately.
The Rams were 14-14 under Sells, but her departure appeared to result from her demanding style of coaching and discord among players.
``This is not necessarily a sad day in my life,'' Sells said in an interview with the Richmond Times-Dispatch. ``I'd rather think of it as a new day in my life.
``Anyone who knows me or has ever been affiliated with me knows how frustrated I've been this year. My expectations were so high for myself and the program, and I don't know that I was patient enough. I guess I let my frustration show.''
Players and their families had complained to VCU athletic and academic officials about Sells' motivational and disciplinary methods, the newspaper said. One player, Vandela Thelander, said Sells had taped shut the mouth of a first-year player during practice on at least two occasions.
``Abuse of players is something we have never and certainly will never condone,'' Sander said. ``If you talk to Peggy about it now, I think she'll admit that yes, that was a bad decision.''
``Was that a mistake?'' Sells reflected. ``Probably so. In retrospect, I probably would not do that again.''
Sells, a native of Knoxville, Tenn., lettered all four seasons as a player at Clemson from 1987 to 1991 and scored 364 career points, 141 of them in her junior year.
She was a graduate assistant coach at Clemson before she went to South Carolina-Spartanburg in 1992. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH
Four basketball players had inquired about transferring after Peggy
Sells' first year as VCU coach. Two others quit this season.
by CNB