Delaware State investigates coach’s behavior

Delaware State women’s basketball coach Tamika Louis is being investigated by the university amid an allegation that she harasses, intimidates and threatens her players to keep quiet about her “dehumanizing behavior,” a school spokesman confirmed Wednesday.

Louis’ basketball-related responsibilities have been temporarily reassigned to Hornets assistant coach Yvette Harris.

“Every allegation or complaint the university gets, in all sorts of situations, the university takes very seriously,” DSU spokesman Carlos Holmes said. “In taking them seriously, we investigate thoroughly. This is no different than anything else that happens. You might remember last year we had the incidents of hazing [related to the marching band]. And the university didn’t waste a whole lot of time to look into that situation.

“And that’s kind of the way we work here. If there’s something out there, an allegation, we need to look into it right away and investigate it thoroughly.”

The investigation into Louis was triggered earlier this week, when Delaware State president Harry Williams received a letter from a players’ parent alleging impropriety, Holmes confirmed.

The parent, who was not identified, shared the letter with the Dover Post. The letter alleges that Louis uses “harassment, intimidation, and threats to keep the players quiet about her dehumanizing behavior” and that the players “have evidence of NCAA violations.”

DSU’s investigation is being handled by the school’s office of human resources, and it will continue, Holmes said, “until we’re satisfied we’ve gathered enough information that we can reach conclusions.”

Louis was hired as DSU’s women’s basketball coach in 2012. She previously served on the coaching staffs at George Washington, St. John’s and Illinois.

Contact Jason Wolf at jwolf@delawareonline.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JasonChadWolf.