‘Finally, we’re being heard’ | University of Idaho volleyball player reacts to

MOSCOW, Idaho — Relieved; that’s how a University of Idaho volleyball player described her feelings after finding out the school’s head volleyball coach was put on administrative leave amid abuse allegations.

Emma Patterson, a junior middle blocker, is one of more than a dozen volleyball players who claim they suffered mental, emotional and physical abuse at the hands of their head coach, Chris Gonzalez. Patterson first spoke to KREM 2 about her experience in early January after she filed a formal complaint with the university about Gonzalez’s alleged conduct. Nearly four months after Patterson first spoke out, Gonzalez has been placed on leave and Patterson says she feels happy to finally be heard.

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The university confirmed to KREM 2 Wednesday that head coach Chris Gonzalez has been placed on administrative leave. This comes after more than a dozen Vandal volleyball players claimed they suffered mental, verbal and physical abuse by Gonzalez, dating back to 2022. Last October, Patterson filed a formal complaint against Gonzalez with the University’s Office of Civil Rights and Investigations (OCRI). It lists alleged offenses including “body shaming,” “ignoring medical advice and putting players at greater risk of injury,” “withholding food,” and “creating a culture of fear, humiliation, embarrassment and intimidation.”

Patterson said she found out about the university’s decision on Wednesday, and said she feels relieved to see steps being taken.

“[The university] told us that the entire situation that we went through was something that no team and no student athlete should ever have to go through,” she said. “Finally, we’re being heard. Finally, steps are being taken.”

Patterson says the university’s actions serve as significant validation for her and her teammates.

“Whoever saw the preliminary report now knows it was as bad as we were saying. All of these situations happened and we all lived through it,” she explained. “But having more external confirmation, it helps the community around us believed us and supported us already.” 

Although she’s relieved to see action finally being taken, Patterson says the university should have addressed the situation sooner than it did.

“After the 2022 season, girls came forward. We could have been spared this…