Former Oberlin College women’s lacrosse coach Kim Russell stands by her belief that biological males should not participate in women’s sports, despite pushback from her former employer.
“Natural-born males should not compete with biological females,” Russell said. he told The Spectator. “Biological males have too many biological and physical advantages.”
The controversy began in March 2022, when Russell defeated female athlete Emma Weyant, despite transgender swimmer Leah Thomas being listed as the official winner of the NCAA women’s 500-yard freestyle event. It started when he re-shared a post declaring himself the winner.
During his first year coaching at Oberlin, Russell considered resigning from his position after three players on the team committed suicide. Instead of leaving, she decided to help her young women and came to consider many of them like her own children. She disputed the idea that these athletes could be denied a chance to compete because biological males are competing.
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Former Oberlin College women’s lacrosse coach Kim Russell stands by her comments about trans athletes. (Screenshot from America’s Newsroom & Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
“If you look at all the sports where it’s happening, it’s already been proven. Men are winning,” Russell said.
But some players were hurt by Russell’s stance on transgender players. She said she didn’t know some of the young women were upset until she received a letter from the Oberlin athletic director asking each team member and department to write a letter of apology.
“I don’t blame or criticize the students who spoke up and got angry because I believe that’s the way society is right now,” Russell said. “That’s what they know. And no one is taught to listen and have a real conversation, to try to understand the other person.”
Russell was asked to attend a meeting with the team and three administrators the following week, where she recorded what happened.
“Unfortunately, you fall into a category of hateful people globally,” Vice President of Athletics Natalie Winkelfoos told Russell.
The coach said her players continued to trust and confide in her even after the government intervened.
“She really cared about the whole player,” Oberlin player Katie McMorris said. “If she was behind on her grades in school, even in the middle of the season, she could miss practice without repercussions. I think that’s one of the things that really sets her apart. Kim. and assistant coaches will allow me to take time off for a mental health day and there will be no repercussions.”
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This March 5, 2013 file photo shows students riding bicycles on the Oberlin College campus in Oberlin, Ohio. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Russell said the young women approached him for assistance after an athlete was seriously injured and reported it to the athletic director. She also agreed to be a reference for the athlete’s work.
After the spring 2022 season, the athletic director filed a lawsuit against Russell.
“Apparently I was competent enough to continue coaching for the rest of the season, but then I was given a letter saying I needed to change my behavior immediately,” Russell said.
Ms Russell asked the school to explain what policies had been broken and to clarify whether she would be fired. Mr. Oberlin is said to have rejected Mr. Russell’s invitation.
Russell broke her silence in 2023, publishing an op-ed in the New York Post, producing a mini-documentary with the Independent Women’s Forum, and appearing on several cable news channels, including Fox News.
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Oberlin reassigned Russell to the role of “Employee Wellness Project Manager” in September 2023, where he was unable to interact with students. She quit her job a month later.
“She sensationalized a series of events that occurred more than a year ago that irreparably damaged the credibility of our players,” Oberlin spokeswoman Andrea Simakis said in a statement. “This breach of trust is the reason she was removed from her coaching position.”
“Oberlin strives to be a community where people can have differing opinions and freely share them in collegial and constructive ways…It’s a shame that Mr. Kim couldn’t find a path to this kind of dialogue. ”Simakis added.
