To: Michael Rao, President
“Don't Fire Our Gay Coach VCU!”
After an astounding season with the VCU women’s volleyball team, ending with a trip to the A-10 Tournament Semifinals, James Finley was fired as the head coach. Mr. Finley believes that he was fired due to his sexual orientation. “The thing that just stabbed me,” Finley said, “the thing that I knew what was going on is when he (the new athletic director) told them (his players) that he needed somebody that would represent the university well. I was just devastated.” Finley has a eight-year record of 151 wins. The day after Finley's team lost the semifinals in the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament, which finished with a year of 25 wins and 6 losses, he was told his contract will not be renewed. Based on the belief that sexual orientation should not play a role in employment, James Finley did not deserve to be fired. Therefore James Finley deserves to continue as the women’s volleyball head coach, and his termination should be revoked.
Why is this important?
James Finley, VCU women’s volleyball head coach’s contract was not renewed after an astounding season, with 25 wins, 6 losses, and a trip to the A-10 Tournament Semifinals. Mr. Finley believes that his contract was not renewed due to him being openly gay. Unfortunately, this has not be the only incident. Pat Stauffer, who is a lesbian, has worked in VCU athletics for 30 years, was demoted from Senior Women’s Administrator to Senior Associate AD for Sports Administration in October.