A shocking report has shined light on alleged abuse, mistreatment and racism within the UAB Blazers softball program at the hands of head coach Taylor Smartt.
Smartt, who has not been with the team for multiple weeks, has had allegations made against her by multiple players and parents.
Those allegations went public in a report from Sports Illustrated that highlights multiple accounts of racism and mistreatment at the hands of the coach.
In a statement provided to the Daily Mail, UAB Athletics said, ‘Taylor Smartt has taken a step back from the program. We will make further comment when it’s appropriate.’
‘We are committed to providing a safe, respectful, and positive experience for our student athletes. When concerns are brought to our attention, we take appropriate steps to investigate them. Employment matters are handled between the institution and employees.’
Among the allegations includes that from the mother of softball player Auburn Dupree, who claims Smart ‘repeatedly subjected’ her daughter to ‘mental and verbal abuse.’
UAB softball coach Taylor Smartt has been accused of abuse and racism by her players
Smartt has been accused of punching her players, employing dangerous conditioning drills, withholding food after her team lost and using verbal abuse – including racial language
Smartt (center) has ‘taken a step back from the program,’ according to a UAB spokesperson
This reportedly manifested in the form of body shaming as well as ‘racially insensitive comments about her braided hairstyle, which was referred to as “jailhouse braids,”‘ according to her mother, Linsey.
Auburn described Smartt as ‘manipulative’ in a text to SI, adding that the coach made her second-guess her worth as a ‘player, a friend, and just as a human.’
Smartt allegedly made another racial comment to another player. The mother of said player told the outlet that the coach told her daughter to stop hanging out with her ‘charred’ friends.
Smartt was also accused of physical abuse when a report was filed after a game against East Carolina. The complaint, filed to the ECU athletics staff, details someone’s eyewitness account of Smartt punching one of her players.
‘While observing from the first base dugout area, I saw the UAB head coach punch a player in the dugout,’ the filed report says, according to SI.
‘Following the incident, I noticed the player began to tear up, appearing to be in physical pain or distress… I wanted to bring this matter to your attention for further review.’
Further allegations in the SI report accuse Smartt of employing dangerous conditioning workouts.
These included making her players tread water until they felt like they ‘were going to die.’
The mother of player Auburn Dupree (above) claims the coach called her daughter’s hair ‘jailhouse braids.’ Another player said Smartt told her to stop being with her ‘charred’ friends.
Smartt (L) has also been accused of ordering her players to push an SUV as conditioning
She also allegedly mandated that her players push an assistant coach’s Toyota 4Runner SUV, before then ordering them to run in front of the vehicle and stop it with just their body weight.
One athlete told SI, ‘One of my teammates almost got, like, actually ran over doing it. She tripped and fell, and the car almost went over her.’
Smartt was also accused of ordering her players to somersault for each minute they were late to a mandatory or optional team activity. One player said they saw multiple teammates roll for an hour after they were late to an OTA in October.
Additionally, Smartt was accused of using food as a manipulation tactic. She was accused of withholding food from players after losses, providing Lunchables as a primary meal, and providing players with only $10 for airport meals – down from $25 the year before – which forced athletes to share meals.
The athletes also claim Smartt repeatedly threatened to loosen their buttholes with her fingers: ‘She told me countless times she would take me to the bathroom and loosen my a**hole for me,’ one player said.
The most shocking allegation came in an April 24 meeting between parents and players as well as athletic director Mark Ingram and other executives within the UAB athletic department.
A complaint filed at the meeting detailed an incident where Smartt, Director of Operations Julie Money and a student athlete were allegedly found ‘on the couch in her apartment in a compromising position.’
The complaint claims, ‘The coach [Smartt] maintains an inappropriately close relationship with a specific player, including sleeping over at the player’s residence.’
Smartt has also been accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a player and staffer
The Daily Mail did not immediately receive a response from Smartt when she was contacted for comment.
UAB was unable to give The Daily Mail contact information for Money, while she has deleted her X account and blocked messages on other platforms.
When asked about Money’s involvement with the team, UAB Athletics told the Daily Mail that Money’s title of Director of Operations was ‘unofficial’ as she was a volunteer with the program and not paid by the university.
‘However, she was very involved with the team, taking on roles typically done by a director of operations, therefore she was given the unofficial title,’ a UAB spokesperson said.
