For those of you who don’t know, Texas Tech Lady Raider basketball coach Marlene Stollings was fired after abuse allegations that were initially uncovered by The Intercollegiate’s Daniel Libit and USA Today’s Jori Epstein.

Libit routinely asks for exit interviews as part of his review of athletic programs and these exit interviews for Texas Tech clearly demonstrated an alarming amount of discontent with the women’s basketball program.

Epstein penned, along with Libit, the USA Today article above, I’m guessing that Epstein reached out to former players, where the abuse and mistreatment of Stollings and some of her coaching staff were confirmed.

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for bringing to light this abuse. That is not sarcasm, that is honest to goodness thanks for stopping the abuse of the women at a program that I love.

On Sunday, former Lady Raider Brittany Brewer penned an editorial that was published in the Avalanche-Journal and she confirmed that the mistreatment was real and the reason why no one spoke out was out of fear and retaliation of the coaching staff:

As the team captain, I had no idea how to handle what was happening. My teammates were barely making it, and I was just trying to find some silver lining in order to show up at practice the next day and play the game that I love. I was trying so hard to be the leader my coaches wanted me to be, which I knew was not right and was not who I am. I was walking on eggshells trying to please them, while trying to support my teammates, but also while trying to muster up my own strength not to quit.

A lot of my teammates transferred and I fully supported their decisions. I wanted to leave with them. Honestly, I was envious they were getting out of the situation while I was still there; however, I knew the Lord was telling me to stay. I have seen so many of the reasons why He still wanted me there, and I know there are still more to be revealed.

Those words are heartbreaking and if anything, Brewer was maybe meant to stay in order to write this editorial to let Lady Raider fans that the allegations were true and the mistreatment was real.

I am saddened that this happened, but I am elated that Stollings, assistant coach Nikita Lowry Dawkins, and strength coach Ralph Patrella will hopefully no longer work in collegiate athletics again.

So, thank you to Libit and Epstein and most importantly the ladies who spoke up to confirm the abuse. I am incredibly disappointed that in the athletic department that allowed this to happen. I am not informed enough to know who to blame, but there should be outlets for student-athletes to approach the administration, at the highest level, to discuss how they are treated by their coaches.

There is this saying, I think it originated in the South Pacific, perhaps the Maori people of New Zealand, but when the question is asked, “What is the most important thing in the world?” The answer is simple, and actually, it is maybe the best way to live your life. The answer . . .

“It is the people. It is the people. It is the people.”

You are in athletics administration to help student-athletes and if they are not the most important thing then you’re doing it wrong.