James Finley, a former University of Virginia Commonwealth (VCU) women’s volleyball coach, recently came forth with allegations of workplace discrimination. Ed McLaughlin, the school’s new athletic director, stated in a November 19 press release that VCU needs “different leadership to attain our goals of achieving at an elite level nationally.” But Finley believes he was fired for being gay. While he was coach, VCU women’s volleyball posted the highest winning percentage in its history and finished third in standings, despite 2012 being the team’s first year in the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament.

In response to this alleged workplace discrimination, Stephanie Bonvissuto, coordinator of the Queer Student Center, and Jesse Wright, President of the Undergraduate Student Government, wrote a letter addressed to the President of VCU, Michael Rao. In the letter, Bonvissuto writes “I am appalled that anyone, let alone a coach as accomplished as James Finley, could be terminated for such suspiciously ambiguous reasons as were given him.”

Bonvissuto and Wright hope that VCU will further investigate the matter and provide exact reasons for the removal of Finley.