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Report: Purdue WBB coach Sharon Versyp accused of creating ‘toxic’ environment

Teddy Rydquist

By Teddy Rydquist

Published:

First reported by the Journal & Courier, Purdue University is investigating women’s basketball coach Sharon Versyp for creating “’a toxic and hostile environment’ by verbally attacking players, using personal information to ‘bring them down’ and ‘bullying’ a member of her coaching staff.”

Per the Journal & Courier’s report, Purdue is determining whether Versyp violated the school’s anti-harassment policy.

A native of Mishawaka, Indiana, and the state’s Miss Basketball in 1984, Versyp starred for the Boilermakers from 1984-88, still residing in the top-10 in 10 all-time statistical categories and is one of only seven four-year starters in program history.

Beginning her coaching career at Lawrence North High School in Indianapolis in 1989, she jumped to the collegiate ranks in 1996 as an assistant with the Louisville Cardinals and received her first head coaching opportunity with the Maine Black Bears in 2000.

After five seasons in Orono, she coached the Indiana Hoosiers for one season in 2005-06, before assuming her current post in West Lafayette.

Purdue’s all-time winningest women’s basketball coach with 301 victories, Versyp has won the B1G Tournament four times (2007, 2008, 2012, 2013) and taken the program to the NCAA Tournament nine times in her 15 seasons, including two trips to the Elite Eight.

Versyp announced in March the 2021-22 season would be her final in her current role, with Katie Gearlds – who was a standout forward for the Boilermakers from 2003-07 – joining her staff as an assistant and then succeeding her as head coach.

Like Versyp, Gearlds was an Indiana Miss Basketball, taking home the honor in 2003.

Teddy Rydquist

A graduate of Bowling Green State University, Rydquist has been contributing to Saturday Down South and Saturday Tradition since 2019. He can be found on Twitter @TeddyRydquist.