A report released earlier today by Associated Press writer Eddie Pells details a host of abusive practices conducted by the Oregon State Volleyball program, centered around Head Coach Mark Barnard. According to the report, Barnard was regularly verbally abusive toward athletes, and would run practices beyond what would be physically safe. Two of the former players spoken to detailed how Barnard’s practices led them to have suicidal thoughts. One of them, Amya Small, attempted an overdose.
Barnard was also in the practice of threatening his players’ scholarship status, threatening to revoke scholarships if his performance expectations weren’t met.