The Clemson Tigers will not pay former gymnastics coach Amy Smith’s buyout after firing her earlier this year. Email conversations detail the reasoning behind that decision as she was let go “for cause.”
The move saved money which was then used to pay the buyouts of her replacements. The Tigers will now look to the future following Smith’s short stint.
Smith was hired by the university in April of 2022 as the first-ever head coach of the Clemson women’s gymnastics program. She was fired just two seasons later.
A spike in complaints about the mistreatment of players arose in the 2024-25 academic year. Those came after the Washington Post detailed similar issues at Smith’s past stops.
That 2023 story explained the “toxic” environments fostered at both the University of North Carolina and Utah State where Smith was an assistant and head coach, respectively. Complaints included body shaming and promoting a “culture of disordered eating.”
While athletic director Graham Neff insists Amy Smith was thoroughly vetted, issues apparently arose again with the Tigers.
Clemson will not pay the former gymnastics coach’s buyout.
The Post and Courier provided email conversations between parents and Neff alluding to “verbal and mental abuse.” The newspaper was also able to get its hands on the school’s notice of separation, which provided further details into the firing.
The university’s notice of separation, obtained by The Post and Courier via a Freedom of Information Act request, cites sections of Smith’s contract pertaining to the “responsible treatment of athletes,” “demonstrating concern for their welfare,” and not engaging in “physical and/or emotional abuse.”
Smith’s actions violated her contract in three ways according to Neff. For that reason, the Tigers won’t be on the hook for the buyout linked to her five-year, $825,000 deal.
The Post and Courier story gives a bit of a behind the scenes view of what took place in the athletic department. That includes the receival of initial complaints, a subsequent one-on-one interview session with players, and the ensuing dismissal. It also shows the gratitude of players’ parents for the school taking action.
The Tigers have already hired replacements for Amy Smith. Clemson swiped ACC rival Cal’s husband/wife head coaching duo in Justin Howell and Elisabeth Crandall-Howell. The school was forced to pay $450,000 buyouts for each.
The post Emails Detail Clemson’s Refusal To Pay Buyout To Controversial Gymnastics Coach After Firing appeared first on BroBible.
Emails Detail Clemson’s Refusal To Pay Buyout To Controversial Gymnastics Coach After Firing
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