Former player accuses Syracuse women's basketball coach Quentin Hillsman of harassment

swb_110128_hillsman-lampkins.jpgView full sizeSyracuse University women's head basketball coach Quentin Hillsman, left, and former player Lynnae Lampkins, right.

The Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights is investigating a sexual harassment complaint filed by a former player against Syracuse University women's basketball coach Quentin Hillsman, according to a report in USA Today on Friday.

"I left the team because I couldn't be around him," Lynnae Lampkins told the newspaper. "He would slap butts and chest bump, and I was very uncomfortable with that."

In her complaint, Lampkins says she received a text message over the summer from Hillsman that read: "I love you, I miss you, I can't wait to see you." In his statement regarding the accusations, Hillsman said that text message went to several players and reflected his sentiments about the team, not one particular player.

"These allegations are untrue and hurtful to me and my family," Hillsman said in the statement. He added, "I’ve coached hundreds of student-athletes and never faced an allegation such as this."

SU senior vice president for public affairs Kevin Quinn said the university had outside counsel conduct an investigation when the complaint was made last summer, which concluded "there was no substance to the allegations." Quinn says Chancellor Cantor and Athletic Director Daryl Gross support coach Hillsman.

Lampkins is a junior at SU, and told USA Today she has retained her scholarship. Hillsman signed a five-year contract with SU in 2008 after being named Big East Women's Co-Basketball Coach of the Year. SU is 15-4 so far this season, and will host South Florida on Saturday.

» USA Today: Syracuse women's coach accused of harassment

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