Controversy remains since coaching legend’s departure

University officials ended the school’s first women’s basketball tenure in June — a controversial decision that left some questions unanswered.
Terri Deike, who compiled a record of 90-61 through six seasons with the Patriots, was released from her contract in which she earned $57,900 this past year.

Records obtained by the Patriot Talon earlier this month show the coach received “superior” or “commendable” ratings in her performance evaluations throughout the years.

She started her college coaching career with the University in 2003 after 22 years of coaching varsity high school basketball in East Texas. She coached the Patriots to three American Southwest Conference East Division titles and also served as an Associate Athletic Director. She also was the sponsor for the University’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Student Athlete Advisory Committee.

Deike said the decision to not renew her contract was unexpected. “The only thing Dr. [Howard] Patterson said was there was ‘poor leadership.’ That’s the only explanation that was given,” Deike told the Talon in a June interview. “They could have come up with something a little bit more believable.”

Patterson, the vice president of student affairs, and Athletic Director James Vilade declined to comment on the reason for the release, but commended her in a press release for “her dedication and service to UT." “Coach Deike played a major role in helping UT Tyler move toward NCAA membership and she was involved in many other facets of the athletic department.”

Vilade repeatedly declined to directly address the reason for Deike’s departure. “It’s our policy not to talk about personnel matters,” he said.

The Talon filed written requests under the Texas Public Information Act for copies of Deike’s contracts, her evaluations, complaint letters and other documents pertaining to her performance as coach.

University officials released some of the documents, but are seeking an opinion for the Texas Attorney General to determine if others must be released.
Attorneys for the University System cite a possible lawsuit by Deike as a legal exception to the open records law. A decision is still pending by the AG’s office.

HISTORY

Vilade and Deike competed for the athletic director’s position when Patterson was promoted to vice president. Vilade was named to the post in July 2008.
Deike said certain working relationships became strained after Vilade took over the post, alleging her non-renewal was based partially on gender bias.
“The powers that be are afraid of women in power, especially if they’re outspoken,” she said. “I knew they would be coming after me.”
Deike said Patterson informed her of Vilade’s promotion over the telephone and was told her skill set was not good enough.

Deike received a “commendable performance” on the evaluation conducted by Vilade earlier this year. She earned “superior” marks in 2004 through 2006 and in 2008, and “commendable” in 2007 and 2003.
The only unfavorable remarks on the most recent evaluation came under “human relations,” but the comments contradict themselves at times, according to documents obtained by the Talon.

“Relations with staff on projects and programming is very consistent. Needs to find ways to be a part of staff activities on a consistent basis.”
The evaluation goes on to say, “needs to be careful in things that are said in a joking manner that could be taken as hurtful. While many players have been happy playing here, complaints have been sent to the department during 2008 about professionalism and the mistreatment of players.”
Also on her last evaluation, Vilade suggests she could improve on “last second game strategies, recruiting student-athletes with strong work ethic, attitude toward student-athletes when losing, and area of human relations.”

Deike said the letters the department received were the first ones against her in all her years at the university, but she believes school officials solicited the letters. “A player put a letter in my personnel file on June 24,” Deike said. “One was sent in the middle of May after school and it was faxed. They claimed it was sent a year and a half ago.”

Deike said she never spoke a harsh word to a player who wrote one of the letters, and that the player fabricated a lot of the information.
“I know I’m very hard and I’m very demanding. I expect excellence and I expect it every day,” Deike said. “The way you are on the court is not the way your are off the court. I would give them the shirt off my back and they know that … help them get their car fixed, get them to a doctor when they’re sick, cook for them, whatever.

I apologize if some of them thought I mistreated them, but I can’t apologize for how I coached what I expected from them,” she said.
The Talon has filed an open request record to obtain the six letters. University system officials claim the names of students in the letters are exempt from disclosure under the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act.

Deike has not returned telephone messages left on her home and cellular telephone seeking additional information.

STUDENT REACTION

Students contacted after Deike’s departure was announced spoke highly of the coach. “Coach Deike is a great women and she leaves behind big shoes to fill,” said junior Melissa Thomas who played this past season. The team’s manager commended the coach on a website blog.

“I transferred to UT Tyler with high hopes of playing basketball for their women’s basketball program under head coach Terri Deike,” Caitlyn Scelfo said.
Former player  Kasey Buggs said Deike was instrumental in recruiting her away from UT Arlington.

“Coach Deike was very persistent, saying “Come on, we have great things at UT Tyler. Our program is just starting and we could use you on next year’s team,” Buggs said in a UT Tyler website feature.

Over the summer, supporters created a Facebook page titled “Patriots for Coach Deike,” a social network group with 398 “friends.”

SUCCESSOR

At the time of her release, Deike mentioned a possible lawsuit, but no action has been taken. Since Deike’s release, the University has hired a new head coach for the women’s basketball program.

Stasha Richards took the position in late July. Richards was a four-year letterman in basketball at Baylor from 1999-2003 under Hall of Fame coach Kim Mulkey. She helped the Lady Bears receive its first NCAA Tournament bid in 2001.

Before coming to the university, Richards was the head coach at Fort Scott Junior College in Kansas from 2007-2009, an assistant coach at Eastern Kentucky University, an assistant coach at Clarendon College, and a coach with the Varsity basketball team at Crocket High School.

Associate editor Dana Bell contributed to this report.