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BREAKING: After three month investigation, UK fires all four cheerleading coaches

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6 years ago

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Normally the only news we hear surrounding the Kentucky cheerleading program is about success and national championships. This morning, we got a totally different kind of news.

The University of Kentucky announced that they would be firing all four cheerleading coaches.

A three-month investigation found the coaching staff and administrative advisor failed to provide reasonable oversight during off-campus events, where inappropriate conduct by members of the cheerleading squad included hazing activities, alcohol use and public nudity.

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The investigation also found careless oversight and poor judgment by T. Lynn Williamson, who served as the cheerleading program’s advisor for four decades. Williamson, whose primary university job was principal deputy general counsel, retired days after learning of the investigation and being directed to have no contact with the cheerleading squad.

“A commitment we make and renew every day at the University of Kentucky is that the success of our students is at the center of everything that we do. But for that sentiment to be more than words, we must always act in ways that honor that commitment — especially when we discover rare instances where those who supervise and guide our students don’t meet the standards of integrity we expect of each other. This is one of those times,” said UK President Eli Capilouto. “The University of Kentucky has built the nation’s premier collegiate cheerleading program. But regrettably, the integrity of the program has been compromised by inappropriate behavior by some squad members on off-campus trips and by lax oversight by the program’s coaches and advisor.”

The investigation also uncovered potential conflicts of interest for two members of the coaching staff who ran gymnastics businesses that employed members of the cheerleading squad and the advisor, who hired students and coaches to perform work at his home. The Office of Internal Audit is reviewing these and other financial practices of the cheerleading squad.

“The advisor and the coaches failed to stop a culture of hazing, alcohol use and public nudity at off-campus activities where they were present,” said Eric N. Monday, UK’s executive vice president for finance and administration. “Our students deserve more responsible leadership and the University of Kentucky demands it.”

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Monday said he has assigned oversight of the cheerleading program to University of Kentucky Athletics to provide more rigorous control and accountability.

Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart made the decision to discharge the cheerleading head coach and remove the assistant coaches from any association with the program consistent with the conclusions of  multiple reports, including those by the Office of Institutional Equity and Equal Opportunity, by the Office of Student Conduct, and a jointly authored report that included input from an expert outside UK with expertise in employment law.

Barnhart has directed Sandy Bell, executive associate athletics director to lead the program, including the hiring of a new coaching staff. A national search will be conducted for a new coach.

“This must be a championship-level program both on and off the court and playing fields,” Barnhart said. “And as with all our sports, that will be our goal — every day.”

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UK’s cheerleading program has won 24 national championships in the past 35 years and developed hundreds of outstanding students.

Monday said the investigation began in early February after a call from a family member of a cheerleader alleging inappropriate conduct by squad members and inadequate oversight by coaches during off-campus trips.

University leaders acted early in the investigation to increase oversight and limit contact between the employees under investigation and cheerleaders.

The three-month process included interviews with more than 60 students, coaches and administrators in the cheerleading program. UK Provost David W. Blackwell said the review found:

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  • Coaches knew or reasonably should have known of inappropriate conduct by cheerleaders and failed to take sufficient steps to address the conduct;
  • During a team retreat at Lake Cumberland, some cheerleaders performed gymnastics routines that including hurling their teammates from a dock into the water while either topless or bottomless. The routines, known as “basket tosses,” were done at the direction of other members of the squad and within the view of at least some of the coaches;
  • Coaches allowed cheerleading alumni to bring boats and alcohol to the retreat, where some cheerleaders were partially naked and/or drinking while riding on boats;
  • Coaches did not confiscate alcohol brought to the retreat by some squad members or intervene to stop students from consuming alcohol. Several squad members became so intoxicated they required medical treatment; and
  • During a cheerleading camp in Tennessee, some cheerleaders were directed by other members of the squad to perform lewd chants and wear outfits that did not include underwear.

The investigation found no evidence of sexual assault or sexual misconduct during these trips.

“We place the safety and health of our students above all other priorities as a university,” Blackwell said. “We cannot truly have a championship cheerleading program if we do not protect the health, safety and well-being of our students.”

As UK Athletics takes control of the program, Bell said inappropriate behavior by the cheerleading squad will not be allowed.

“The annual retreat will be eliminated, and all off-campus trips will be closely supervised,” Bell said. “Cheerleading squad members will be held to the same standards as all our student athletes. It’s a new day for UK cheerleading.”

Athletics officials are meeting today with current members of the current squad to share the news and discuss the timeline for hiring and tryouts.

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UK Athletics will immediately begin the national search for a new head coach, who will be part of the selection of assistant coaches and the 2020-21 team members this summer.

The investigation reports and other documents can be accessed here.

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No. 4 Kentucky Volleyball Defeats the No. 3 Louisville Cardinals in Historic Match

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3 days ago

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September 20, 2026

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Photo via Tyler Ruth | UK Athletics

A sellout crowd of 6,045 packed into Historic Memorial Coliseum on Sunday, Sept. 20, for a match that was nothing short of the venue’s namesake- historic. In “upset” fashion, No. 4 Kentucky Volleyball defeated the No. 3 Louisville Cardinals in four sets (19-25, 29-27, 25-21, 25-19) for the team’s fourth ranked win on the season.

After two matches in the Bahamas at the Paradise Invitational, the Wildcats were welcomed back to Lexington with perhaps their greatest challenge yet in the No. 3 Cardinals, the first top-five matchup in the history of Memorial Coliseum.

A four-point run by the Cardinals to begin the first set quickly set the tone, as a 7-2 Louisville lead forced Kentucky into a timeout. Attributed heavily to four kills by Louisville outside hitter Chloe Chicoine, the Cardinals took the first set 25-19.

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In a pivotal second set, 16 ties and seven lead changes would extend the set into deuce. Aided by middle blocker Kennedy Washington’s five kills, the Wildcats outlasted the Cardinals 29-27 and evened the match at one set apiece.

After the game, head coach Craig Skinner spoke on how the Wildcats regrouped after dropping the first set.

“We’re going to have cards dealt to us at some point in the match, some may be good, some may be bad,” Skinner said. “We need to plan in our favor no matter what the situation is.”

Kentucky appeared to have found its footing in the third set, seemingly flipping the script of the first. The Wildcats would lead the rest of the third set after reclaiming the lead at 6-5, capping it off with a kill by outside hitter Morgan Gaerte to claim the se 25-21.

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Skinner and his team would continue to ride the momentum with their most dominant stretch of the day coming in the fourth set. An ace by outside hitter Brooklyn DeLeye would serve as an exclamation point to end the set at 25-19, securing the victory at three sets to one.

Ending non-conference play on a high note with an 8-2 record, the No. 4 Wildcats will head to Nashville on Wednesday, Sept. 23, to open up conference play against Vanderbilt (9-0). This SEC matchup is scheduled for 9:00 p.m. ET and will stream on the SEC Network.

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Kentucky Men’s Soccer Remains Winless, Falls to Marshall in Sun Belt Conference Opener

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4 days ago

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September 19, 2026

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Photo via Charlie Nagel | UK Athletics

Kentucky men’s soccer is still searching for the first win of the season after losing four out of the last five games. The Wildcats were predicted to finish fourth in the Sun Belt Preseason coaches poll, and now, that seems a little far-fetched.

In Friday’s home matchup against the Marshall Thundering Herd, the Cats came out playing with fire, setting the tone early with a few shots on goal within just a few minutes. The first half on Sept. 19 had a great back-and-forth flow, with both sides playing aggressively.

Around the 12th minute, Marshall’s offense started to find its rhythm, putting pressure on UK’s defense. Eventually, both teams went into the locker room all squared up at zero.

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Marshall’s offense really started to click on all cylinders during the start of the second half. Things were all even up until the 59th minute, when forward Joshua Nugent hit a strike past Kentucky’s keeper and into the back of the net.

Kentucky was able to get a few shots on goal, including having the ball roll in front of Marshall’s net, but no one was in position to even things up.

Time ran out on the Cats, and they were unable to find the equalizer, leading to yet another loss and remaining winless on the year.

Head coach Johan Cedergren pointed to the defense afterward: “I think we played well. We limited one of the best attacking teams in the country to one or two chances and we had five unbelievable chances.”

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In regard to the squad still being winless, he mentioned that he never expected in 15 years to be at this point. When asked about the performance today, coach said, “I’m proud of how the guys played today, and of course I’m disappointed in the result. I know that everyone is disappointed with how our results have gone so far this year, but I feel like we are close.”

I asked what “close” looks like. He pointed to missed opportunities, rather than not having them at all: “We just got to keep doing what we’re doing. Again, if we aren’t creating chances, then we would have to go back and say ok that’s not working. But today, you know, the ball’s rolling across the goal line, then we have a header with a minute to go that’s six yards out, and we miss…”

He circled back to the same theme a bit later: “I just think over 15 years, those looks go in, and unfortunately for us today, all four of them didn’t. I don’t know why, but I do know we are playing well and we’re creating chances; we’re just going to have to find a way to keep working.”

The bright side right now for Cedergren and the squad is that the season is incredibly young, and there is a long way to go. Coach said it himself, “Hopefully we’re peaking at the right time because we sure as of right now are not peaking currently.”

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The Wildcats will look to get their first win of the season when they travel to play Lipscomb on Tuesday, Sept. 22. Match time is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. ET and will be available for streaming on ESPN+.

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Kentucky Men’s Golf Ties For Seventh at Bearcat Invitational

Published

1 week ago

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September 16, 2026

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Photo via Chet White | UK Athletics

The Bearcat Invitational, hosted by the University of Cincinnati, wrapped up its two-day tournament on Tuesday, Sept. 15. The Wildcats tied for seventh, along with Maryland, in the 17-team tournament at Coldstream Country Club.

Kentucky finished with a team total of one over par.

On Monday, Sept. 14, the Wildcats were four under par, putting them in sixth place ahead of day one. Sophomore Gabriel Hull scored six under par after round two. His performance ranks as the sixth-best 18-hole round in program history, dating back to the 2001-02 season.

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Individually, Hull was tied for 26th place on the leaderboard along with Cameron Phillips, Cole Stockard and Jacob Settles, all while also making the top 20 of the individual leaderboard.

For day two, Kentucky was five over as a group with junior Jacob Lang leading on the day with a one under par score. Hull finished with a tie for 14th on the individual leaderboard after an even score in round three.

“Gabe [Hull] really stepped up the final two rounds for us,” head coach Gator Todd said. “He has real game and he’s starting to show what he’s capable of.”

The final leaderboard was posted as:
T14: Gabriel Hull (76-65-71)
T21: Cole Stockard (70-70-73)
T28: Cameron Phillips (69-70-75)
T28: Jacob Settles* (72-68-74)
T55: Jacob Lang (73-75-70)
T77: Gavin Clutts (73-74-75)
Bold = Counting Score
*Individual

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“We did not have our best stuff this week, but I am proud of the way the guys hung in there,” Todd said. The Wildcat’s next tournament will be held on Sept. 28 in Lake Forest, IL for the Windon Memorial Classic.

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