‘Screaming to be heard’: protest scheduled Feb.4 in wake of women’s basketball coach’s firing

“She ended up complaining about the running and the way she was treated on the team, which ultimately resulted in the Head Coach Chris King getting fired.”

Now, in the nearly two months since the two-time Coach of Canada and national champion was removed after a 17-year career at the college, it has resulted in “an uproar” as King’s players, in solidarity, have decided not to return to the court and the assistant coaching staff both tendered their resignations.

Brianne Hergott takes a shot during a game. (Submitted Photo/Brianne Hergott)

“The girls obviously are standing by Chris, myself and the other assistant coach are standing by him as well but we’re not going to work for an institution where none of us are protected,” she said of the defending national champions.

“None of us did the wrong thing.”

The Lloydminster Rustler community will hold a peaceful protest for Feb. 4 beginning at 12:15 at the college and will feature a march and speeches from supporters.

BattlefordsNOW has reached out to multiple members of the Lakeland leadership and the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference and is awaiting a reply. Lakeland did issue a statement on January 10th regarding the forfeiture of the season.

In the wake of players’ decision, which has led to the forfeiture of the 2024-25 season, the college had also filed a Manifest Hardship with the ACAC but was denied.

According to a press release, “Manifest Hardship as defined by the ACAC Operating Code, is invoked when an institution cannot meet its schedule commitments due to an act of God or other circumstances beyond its control.”

According to Rustlers Alumnus Brianne Hergott, who played for King from 2017-20, the subsequent investigation from Lakeland had a ‘bias.’

“They interviewed her and just Chris King and the two assistant coaches, and that was it,” said Hergott.

“They didn’t interview anybody else on the team…that’s just one side, right? When you have a large investigation regarding, I guess malpractice, you have to investigate everyone on the team to see if the opinion or experience is the same.”

Dugan said what happened to her team that she dedicated 10 years of her life to, first as a player and then as an assistant coach, has angered her.

“I haven’t heard a single thing from the college,” she said.

“The girls are still screaming to be heard, the community is screaming to be heard, and no one’s giving answers and no one’s talking.”

Dugan explained that the players, who are now facing mental health struggles and have lost their year of eligibility, had gone to the leadership but to no avail.

“That’s the reason for this peaceful protest because clearly what we’re trying to do through social media, getting them to answer emails, all that has not – they’re just refusing to listen,” she said.

“We thought we’ll show our faces and show the amount of people in support of Chris and show how many people are absolutely outraged by this situation.”

As for the coach, his team is deeply concerned for him as they have never seen him so low.

“It’s hard to talk about ‘cause no one ever wants to see their role model in this state and Chris has done so much more than basketball,” she said.

“It’s not about basketball for Chris, it’s about creating a really good human.”

According to Hergott, within the college system, a player only gets five years of eligibility and said it was disappointing that since the players only played for two months, the whole year was not going to be given back by the league.

“Obviously every year you want to leave it all on the court and try your best,” she said.

The Rustlers huddle up during a game. (Submitted Photo/Brianne Hergott)

“I think some are continuing school, I think some just went back home and they don’t know what to do anymore.”

Meanwhile, at the heart of everything is something that goes hand in hand with sport: team consequences.

“We’re losing sight of basketball,” said the former Rustler.

“Basketball is a sport of discipline and pride, like the amount of running I’ve had to do as a player, yeah it was a lot of running and I probably hated every second of it, but it made me such a better player and it taught and discipline and responsibility – to take care of things.”

As such, she said if they can’t teach those virtues in sport, where can they?

“It’s not unreasonable right? Like every sport has discipline, has accountability because that makes you a better player,” said Hergott.

“It’s very frustrating when people complain about the consequences of messing up as a team.”

As for the investigation itself, Hergott called it unfair and unprofessional.

“That kind of sets the precedent for other coaches and players,” she said.

“Anybody can say anything and if they have an investigation that occurs in the same way then of course they’re all going to lose their jobs or whatnot, but that’s very dangerous ‘cause there’s no regulations protecting players or coaches right now.”

Meanwhile, Dugan said while the former player who made the complaint has moved on to another team and is playing in Eastern Canada, her former teammates remain in limbo and in the wake of the investigation and subsequent firing, lives are in ruins.

“There’s an incredibly dark cloud over Lloyd,” said Dugan.

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julia.lovettsquires@pattisonmedia.com

On BlueSky: juleslovett.bsky.social

by Julia Lovett-Squires

‘Screaming to be heard’: protest scheduled Feb.4 in wake of women’s basketball coach’s firing

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