Penn State fined Rene Portland, its women’s basketball coach, $10,000 on Tuesday for violating the university’s nondiscrimination policy, the Centre Daily Times reported today. A university investigation found that Ms. Portland, who has coached the team for more than 25 years, had mistreated a player who was perceived to be a lesbian.
In a statement, Ms. Portland said that the accusations were false and that the university’s investigation was “flawed.” She said she planned to remain as coach for the duration of her contract, which runs through 2009.
University officials said that Ms. Portland would be dismissed if she violated the institution’s nondiscrimination policy again, and ordered her to undergo diversity training.
The player has filed a federal lawsuit accusing the university and the coach of discrimination. Ms. Portland was accused in the 1980s of saying she did not permit lesbians to play on her teams (The Chronicle, March 9, 1994).
