UNC women’s rowing coach resigns after 17 seasons, assistant coach on leave
Sarah Haney, North Carolina’s women’s rowing coach, has resigned from her position effective immediately, the school announced in a press release Monday.
Assistant coaches Emilie Gross and Thomas Revelle will serve as co-interim coaches.
Haney’s profile page on UNC’s athletic website has been removed.
According to a report in The Daily Tar Heel, the university’s Title IX office was investigating the rowing program after complaints were made about Haney and assistant coach Anthony Brock. They allegedly include emotional abuse, injury negligence and sexual harassment, the article states.
Brock is currently on leave, Mary Lee Gibson, a university spokesperson told The News & Observer Monday. She declined to comment further. Brock’s profile page on the UNC website was still active Monday afternoon.
UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham in a text message declined to comment.
But in a statement released by the school Monday, Cunningham expressed his appreciation for Haney.
“Sarah has played a key role in our rowing program since its inception, and I appreciate her hard work and commitment to Carolina as both a student-athlete and coach,” Cunningham said in a statement. “She always will be a member of our Tar Heel family, and I wish her the very best in her future endeavors.”
Haney has been the school’s head coach since the 2002 season. The women’s rowing team finished tied for seventh the past two years in the ACC Championship. Nine ACC programs have women’s rowing teams.
Hanney was a 1998 graduate of UNC and helped lobby for the rowing program to varsity status.
She lettered on the school’s first varsity squad during the 1997-98 season.
“It has been an honor to be a part of Carolina and our rowing program, and I have loved every opportunity that has been presented to me here,’’ Haney said. “Stepping down as head coach has been a difficult decision, but I want to prioritize more ‘mom’ time with my two young kids, and this is the best way to do it. “
This is a developing story. Check back later for updates.
This story was originally published December 2, 2019 at 2:15 PM.
