Coach Faces Lawsuits Over Alleged Harassment and Retaliation

A group of six former University of Pittsburgh women’s basketball players has filed individual suits against head coach Tory Verdi and the university. They allege that Verdi fostered a hostile environment, used psychological abuse, and retaliated after the players raised concerns. The complaints are lodged in a federal court in Pittsburgh and touch on Title IX violations, emotional distress, breach of scholarship contracts, and negligent supervision.

Plaintiffs

• Favor Ayodele
• Raeven Boswell
• Makayla Elmore
• Brooklynn Miles
• Isabella Perkins – now at Boston College
• Jasmine Timmerson

All were on Division I scholarships. They claim Verdi promised an inclusive team culture but delivered public humiliation, arbitrary playtime cuts, exclusion from events, favoritism and offensive comments about appearance and performance. Perkins alleges that after she complained Verdi removed her from the roster without due process, delayed her redshirt request until she hired a lawyer.

University Response

University spokesperson Jared Stonesifer dismissed the claims as “without merit” and stated that Pitt would defend itself vigorously. Yet the lawsuits allege that university staff knew of the complaints and did nothing, allowing a climate of fear to persist. The players’ lawyers argue that this inaction, coupled with Verdi’s tactics, created an emotionally destabilizing culture.

Specific Accusations

• A practice remark in which Verdi allegedly told the team he “wanted to kill himself” over them.
• Claims that he tried to split players by race, pitting white and Black teammates against each other.
• Alleged intentional division of the squad to foster discord.

Background on Verdi

Verdi was hired in April 2023 by former Athletic Director Heather Lyke, with whom he had previously worked at Eastern Michigan. He spent seven years coaching at UMass before joining Pitt, whose women’s team last appeared in the NCAA tournament in 2015. The current season has seen the squad finish 8‑17 overall and 1‑11 in the ACC, with eight straight losses.

Legal Demands

The plaintiffs seek monetary damages and a declaration that Pitt violated Title IX. Their claims highlight the tension between athletic performance pressures and student‑athlete welfare, urging a reevaluation of coaching conduct standards.