By: Evan Yang

Grambling State fired newly-hired women’s volleyball coach Chelsey Lucas after an outcry about her decision to cut the whole team. The previous coach was Demetria Keys-Johnson, who left for another position at the same university. Lucas was hired in February after three seasons with her previous team, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.

Lucas was formerly a libero on the Grambling volley team. She won the 2006 Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC)Defensive Player of the Year, and was a familiar face on the courts. However, according to several players, her relationship with those she coached was icy due to a previous incident. When Grambling played Arkansas while Lucas was coach there, she mistook a Grambling team chant for an insult. Afterward, the few Grambling practices she ran consisted mostly of running and were not very volleyball-related.

After her brief introduction to her new role, she informed all 12 scholarship players that she would not be renewing their scholarships for the 2022 season. Several walk-ons also were disappointed to find that their spots would not be available to them going forward. This sudden decision left many players unsure of what to do next. While Grambling initially supported Lucas’ decision, after one month the university announced an independent review of allegations against Lucas. After the cuts, the players also organized a petition for Lucas’ removal. It gathered more than 3,700 signatures and ultimately led to Lucas’ firing.