Vivas out as volleyball coach

By CHHUN SUN

Fresno State athletic director Scott Johnson announced Monday that the school will not renew the contract of women’s volleyball coach Lindy Vivas.

In a press release from the office of Vivas’ lawyer, Rayma Church, the coach said Fresno State athletic director Scott Johnson “did his best to sabotage the success of [her] volleyball program.”

Johnson announced Monday that the school will be “launching an immediate national search for the head coaching position in the sport of women’s volleyball,” according to a news release by the department.

“The school started looking for a new coach immediately after the announcement,” assistant athletic director Steve Weakland said. “We’re looking for a coach who can take the school to the next level.”

In the press release, Johnson quotes three goals for the Fresno State volleyball program that need to be met by January, the department’s self-imposed deadline to have a new coach.

“We will be looking for a coach who can create a competitive schedule,” Johnson said in the press release. “We need to improve our national prominence, have success against high-caliber opponents in and out of conference and return to the national rankings, all of which will increase attendance and community participation for our volleyball program.”

Church claims that Vivas’ “firing” is “unjustified.”

“You don’t fire a coach for a winning record,” Church said, citing the coach’s achievements. Vivas finished her 14-year career at Fresno State with a 263-167 record and made three appearances in the NCAA Tournament.

Church said the former coach was terminated in “retaliation because Vivas is a vocal advocate of women’s rights in sports.” In May, Church said, Vivas filed a Title IX complaint to the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights.

Church said university officials, including president John Welty, have been talking about firing Vivas since October.

“There’s no rational reason for not renewing her contract,” Church said.

Fresno State has never won a conference championship in volleyball, one of just two programs at the school never to accomplish that goal. The Bulldogs have also never beaten WAC rival Hawaii nor won a match in the NCAA Tournament under Vivas.

Johnson also cited the team’s low attendance records and inability to finish “in the top 25 in over a decade” for Vivas’ dismal.

“We have high expectations for our volleyball program,” he said.

The Bulldogs finished this season 15-13 and were the fifth seed in the WAC tournament, where they lost to Hawaii in the second round after being picked in the preseason polls to finish second in the conference.

Senior outside hitter Amanda Magalei said the team is “very upset” by Johnson’s decision.

“It is a big mistake for the team because she stuck up for women’s rights in sports,” Magalei said. “She knows more than anyone about this sport. She’s dedicated to her job, focused and determined to push her athletes to their best potential.

“I’m graduating, but for those who have scholarships, they ask, ‘Am I going to come here next year?’ ”