Recent investigations into the volleyball program at Oregon State University have shed light on a troubling culture of abuse, echoing similar accounts from athletes in Australia, the homeland of former coach Mark Barnard. Following a six-year inquiry, Australian authorities issued an apology to athletes who were part of Barnard’s coaching era.
A report by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation revealed that many athletes resonated with the findings highlighted in the earlier investigative piece from 2020. One player, Selina Scoble, recounted her shock while reading the accounts, noting, “It was like reading one of our own training sessions.” The emotional toll of her experiences with the team led to severe personal struggles, including depression and bulimia.
The investigation by the Associated Press uncovered numerous allegations from players indicating an environment of fear and harsh tactics within the Oregon State program, which Barnard led until 2022. Athletes reported that Barnard frequently instigated rivalries during team meetings and pushed players beyond safe physical limits as a form of punishment. Notably, drills involving challenging dives after errant throws, described by Oregon State players, were reminiscent of techniques utilized by Barnard during his earlier role as an assistant coach for Australia’s burgeoning women’s volleyball team.
Former Australian player Elizabeth Brett shared her ongoing trauma from her experiences, revealing, “On any given day, we were fearful for our physical being, for our emotional being.” She expressed lingering anxiety that has affected her sleep since her retirement from the sport after the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
The aftermath of the initial AP report prompted Volleyball Australia to voice support for Barnard on social media, which ignited further discussions among former players regarding their own negative experiences. Rowena Morgan, a former athlete, criticized the organization for making such a public statement without first consulting those directly impacted, leading to feelings of anger and frustration among the athletes.
Morgan also described a significant shift in Barnard’s behavior after he became head coach, contrasting his previously supportive nature as an assistant. While he once maintained a more amiable demeanor, players noted a drastic change, with him resorting to verbal abuse and intimidation.
In response to the emerging reports, Sports Integrity Australia initiated a review that involved interviews with dozens of participants, revealing that from 1997 to 2005, the program cultivated a hostile environment marked by punishment and ineffective complaint mechanisms. This examination concluded in 2022 when Volleyball Australia ultimately issued a public apology acknowledging the harm endured by the former players. This apology, however, was notable for not specifically naming Barnard or his predecessor, Brad Saindon.
Oregon State has publicly refuted claims surrounding the allegations of mistreatment and maintained that appropriate measures were taken following their internal inquiries. However, many former players expressed feelings of being ignored and disregarded by the university, with some even contemplating suicide due to the trauma they experienced.
The controversy has also seen a shift in Barnard’s career trajectory; he served as an assistant coach at Oregon State beginning in 2005 and later accumulated a record of 70-132 during his head coaching tenure. He left the university following the 2022 season, with the institution acknowledging his years of service without addressing the serious abuse claims.
While Barnard did not offer a comment following the recent ABC report, Saindon rejected the accusations, asserting, “I’m not that kind of coach; I’ve never done that in my whole coaching career.” In the midst of legal battles over document disclosures related to these allegations, Oregon State stated their concerns about the potential impact of releasing such documents on future reporting of misconduct.