St. Francis Xavier University has suspended women’s basketball head coach Lee Anna Osei for the remainder of the 2018-19 season.
Osei allegedly had a first-year player perform a disciplinary drill during a practice last month that left the player’s wrists and forearms scraped and bruised to the point medical attention was required.
Osei has not coached since late January.
Late Friday night, St. F.X. issued a statement from athletic director Leo MacPherson.
“Our investigation of an incident involving on-court injuries to a member of the X-Women basketball team is now complete,” the statement reads. “The investigation has concluded that the injury resulted from improper supervision of the performance of an on-court exercise undertaken as part of a disciplinary measure.
“It is unfortunate this incident occurred, and we wish to express our deep regret and apology to the injured player and her family.
“As a result of our investigation, the university has decided that coach Osei will be suspended for the remainder of the 2018-19 basketball season. An enhanced development plan to provide additional support to Coach Osei and her student-athletes will also be implemented.”
The X-Women remain winless on the season, after dropping an 85-77 decision to the Saint Mary’s Huskies on Saturday evening.
Arianna Macias tallied 22 points to pace the Huskies (2-15).
Brianna Gottschall answered with 22 points and nine rebounds and Kimberly Kingsbury collected 21 points for the last-place X-Women (0-17).