A women’s college coach is under fire for her comments regarding transgender student-athletes participating in women’s sports.
Kim Russell, the head lacrosse coach at Oberlin College in Ohio, spoke out on social media against the participation of biological men in women’s sports, but she was reprimanded by the school for giving her opinion publicly.
“There were no rules that I was breaking,” Russell said during an interview on Tuesday night on Fox News’ The Ingraham Angle. “I was speaking my belief, my opinion, and when I took that to the college with a letter from my attorney, I said, ‘If I am breaking university policy, please tell me what that policy is. Please do so in writing, and if you’re going to fire me for breaking that policy, please do it now.’”
Russell first made headlines with a sarcastic reaction to transgender swimmer Lia Thomas winning the 2022 NCAA swimming national championship competing against women.
“Congratulations to Emma Weyant, the real woman who won the NCAA 500-yard freestyle event,” she wrote on social media, referring to the event’s official runner-up.
“What do you believe? I can’t be quiet on this … I’ve spent my life playing sports, starting & coaching sports programs for girls & women,” she said.
The post was not received well by some members of her team, and one player even went to the athletic director with a screenshot. Russell was eventually called into a meeting, admonished for conveying her stance on the issue, and ordered to apologize — which she has refused to do.
During the meeting, Natalie Winkelfoos, Oberlin’s associate vice president of athletics, told Russell, “Unfortunately, you fall into the category of people that are kind of filled with hate in the world.”
Creg Jantz, senior associate director of athletics, said, “It’s acceptable to have your own opinions, but when they go against Oberlin College’s beliefs, it’s a problem.”
“I was not just chastised,” Russell told the Independent Women’s Forum during an interview featured in a documentary on the issue. “I was burned at the stake. I was stoned. I was basically told I was a horrible person, and it was heartbreaking, really.”
May Mailman, a senior legal fellow at the Independent Women’s Law Center, also appeared on The Ingraham Angle with Russell.
“Funny enough, Oberlin College’s missions and values, which is on their website, says that they foster an environment that is respectful of divergent viewpoints,” Mailman remarked.
“We’ve heard from other coaches who want to be leaders for their teams,” she added. “…It is up to the adults. We can’t let the whole obligation for women rest on college kids. There have to be coaches that speak up and protect women.”
Russell continues to broadcast her beliefs and has gained the support of the Independent Women’s Law Center, arguing that Oberlin’s actions conflict with the mission and values published on its website and that men’s coaches would not be subject to the same disciplinary action.
The school has not fired Russell but has instituted some conditions, including that she may not attend certain events.
Oberlin is an NCAA Division III school, and current NCAA policies leave participation decisions to the governing bodies of the sport in order to “preserve opportunity for transgender student-athletes while balancing fairness, inclusion and safety for all who compete.”
Russell also acknowledged that she may take legal action, saying, “Everything is on the table. We’re in the middle of the storm.”