University of Vermont fires head hockey coach over ‘inappropriate’ text messages to student

The University of Vermont fired males’s hockey coach Todd Woodcroft after an investigation following what the college referred to as “inappropriate” textual content messages with a scholar.

The investigation started after a complaint against Woodcroft again in March. Woodcroft was relieved of his duties on Tuesday.

The college didn’t present particulars in regards to the texts, however did say there have been no different allegations or indications of something inappropriate past the texts.

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The grievance was referred to the Workplace of Affirmative Motion and Equal Alternative, and whereas he was not positioned on depart, Woodcroft was advised to not have any contact with college students concerned within the investigation. He additionally labored from house all through the investigation.

“The College of Vermont Athletic Division has excessive expectations for the conduct of our coaches and all concerned with our division. After reviewing the findings of an investigation carried out by UVM’s Workplace of Affirmative Motion and Equal Alternative that was accomplished this week, it’s clear that Coach Woodcroft failed to satisfy these expectations,” athletic director Jeff Schulman stated in a press release.

Schulman added that the conduct was “inappropriate textual content messages with a UVM scholar on a number of events that failed to take care of skilled boundaries.”

Woodcroft was fired over “inappropriate” textual content messages to a scholar. (Tyler Schank/NCAA Images by way of Getty Pictures)

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“The athletic division has very excessive requirements and expectations of our coaches and of our employees,” Schulman stated. “That is significantly true for head coaches who’ve a particular accountability simply given the visibility of their roles as mentors and function fashions for our scholar athletes.”

Nevertheless, Woodcroft’s lawyer, Andrew Miltenberg, says they’ll “pursue justice” for the now-former head coach.

“We vehemently disagree with the method and the findings of a continuing that lacked basic equity and due course of,” Miltenberg stated. “We strongly imagine the College’s determination was opposite to the details and the regulation. We intend to pursue justice for Mr. Woodcroft, who has been an excellent coach and group advocate for over 20 years.”

College of Vermont’s Gutterson Fieldhouse in Burlington, Vermont, throughout a sport between the College of New Hampshire Wildcats and the College of Vermont Catamounts. Gutterson Fieldhouse opened in 1963 and likewise served as a pre-season skilled hockey coaching facility. The weekend collection in opposition to New Hampshire marked a document setting forty ninth consecutive sellout on the Intestine. (Ed Wolfstein /Icon SMI/Icon Sport Media by way of Getty Pictures)

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Woodcroft had a 20-55-9 document in three seasons with the Catamounts. He additionally has NHL experience as an assistant coach with the Winnipeg Jets and as a scout with a number of groups together with the Calgary Flames and Los Angeles Kings.

The Related Press contributed to this report.