UPDATE: Cajuns softball coach Lotief placed on administrative leave
LAFAYETTE — Louisiana-Lafayette softball coach Michael Lotief has been placed on administrative leave.
The university released a statement Wednesday morning which stated, “Since Friday, Oct. 6, 2017, Michael Lotief has been on a leave of absence from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. In Lotief’s absence as head coach of the softball team, Assistant Coach Chris Malveaux is coordinating the program.”
The university did not reveal why the decision had been made to place the popular, and highly successful, coach on leave.
Lotief’s attorney, John E. McElligott Jr., released a statement to Lafayette news outlets later on Wednesday which shed light on what possibly was behind the leave.
The statement reads as follows:
“Approximately two weeks ago, Coach Lotief was informed that he was placed on administrative leave. We would like the softball fan base, Ragin’ Cajun supporters and the good people of Lafayette to understand that this action arises out of a passionate conversation about gender equity, between Coach Lotief and other University personnel. In this conversation, Coach Lotief raised simple issues like getting the grass cut, making sure students have an athletic trainer at practice, making sure the assistant coaches get paid and ensuring female athletes get a functional assessment before doing weight training.
“The Lotiefs have spent their university careers fighting for better opportunities for female athletes and to make sure they are afforded equitable opportunities. While no formal complaints have been made against Coach Lotief, we hope that this brings greater awareness to the issues of gender equity, and ask the community for their continued support and prayers for UL’s softball players in this difficult time.”
The law office of L. Clayton Burgess released a statement on Thursday afternoon in support of Lotief.
Burgess’ statement states:
“The Law Office of L. Clayton Burgess represents some UL softball players concerning possible Title 9 violations committed by The University of Louisiana-Lafayette; these are very serious issues that not only go to the core of gender equity but also involve discrimination because they are feamle athletes and even unfair treatment and retaliation by present ULL athletic administrators. These athletes are all great students in the classroom; they are involved in this community providing services to the less fortunate or the sick or mentoring young children, they are very gifted and work extremely hard at their sport to bring prestige to this University; but at this time, they feel very disrepected and mistrated and unappreciated by the athletic aministration. We would like to make sure that the Lafayette community and the Ragin Cajuns supports know that this is NOT the way we feel about them – they love the overwhelming community support and we ask for your continued prayers and lvoe for these players through this very difficult time.”
Lotief’s career coaching record is 729-174 and he has led the Cajuns to five straight NCAA Super Regionals between 2012 and 2016, claimed seven NCAA Regional titles, made three trips to the Women’s College World Series (2003, 2008, 2014), routinely has his teams nationally ranked and has won a dozen Sun Belt Conference tournament titles.
Loiter, who has battled throat cancer for more than three decades, originally joined the program as a volunteer coach in 2001, became co-head coach with his wife Stefni from 2002-2012 before taking over as sole coach in 2013.
The Ragin’ Cajuns open up the 2018 season on Feb. 8 against Samford in the Mardi Gras Classic held at Lamson Park.