Allegations against the softball coach at the University of Alabama at Birmingham include emotional and physical abuse, along with racist comments directed at players.
Taylor Smart has ‘taken a step back’ from her duties with the UAB program following the emergence of these serious accusations about a month ago.
A notable claim comes from Lindsay Dupree, mother of former UAB player Aubrey Dupree. She stated that Smart not only physically embarrassed her daughter but also subjected her to “mental and verbal abuse.”
Aubrey echoed these sentiments in a text to a publication, describing Smart as “manipulative,” which made her question her worth as a “player, friend, and individual.”
Another parent claimed the coach instructed her daughter to refrain from associating with her “scorched” friends.
Smart’s situation gained scrutiny after a witness reported seeing her hit one of her players in the dugout during a game against East Carolina on March 27.
This report was forwarded to ECU’s athletic department and the school’s athletic director.
“From the first base dugout area, I observed the UAB head coach strike a player inside the dugout. Following the incident, the player began to cry and appeared to be in distress and pain… This matter needs to be addressed,” read an email detailing the incident.
Another alarming report indicated that UAB players were made to stop an assistant coach’s car by using only their weight, leading to dangerous situations.
“One of my teammates nearly got run over during that. She tripped and fell, and the car almost hit her,” recounted a player who saw it happen.
Additionally, it was reported that Smart had an inappropriate relationship with a softball program official, allegedly intruding in a concerning way.
“The coach had an inappropriately close bond with specific players, even spending nights at their homes,” stated one of the complaints.
UAB responded to the allegations, affirming its dedication to a “safe” environment for all students and emphasizing that employment matters are addressed internally.
“When a concern is raised, we will take the necessary steps to investigate. Employment issues will be managed between the institution and the employee,” the statement concluded.
