Text Messages Killed The Cat

You've likely heard the news, but former Winnipeg Jets assistant coach and University of Vermont Catamounts men's hockey head coach Todd Woodcroft, pictured left, was fired by the school yesterday after an investigation with regards to his conduct that was executed by the school's Office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity (AAEO). As per the complaint filed with the Office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity, the investigation revealed that Woodcroft had allegedly exchanged "inappropriate text messages with a UVM student" while working as the coach of the hockey team. Woodcroft and his attorney, Andrew Miltenberg, are denying the findings of the investigation and are examining their options.

"The complaint was only about inappropriate text messages," University of Vermont athletic director Jeff Schulman said. "And I guess I do want to just be really clear that there was no allegations or indication of anything beyond inappropriate text messages."

Schulman did make a point that the text messages being investigated concerned only one student, but multiple students were involved in the complaint process. Schulman also cited privacy concerns over revealing anything about those students to the media, but he did state that the investigation started on March 16, 2023 when a UVM Athletic Department staff member received the complaint, and Woodcroft was instructed to work from home until the matter was resolved along with having no contact with any students involved in the complaint. He was not suspended nor put on leave during his time working from home.

In response to the dismissal, Miltenberg released a statement to the Burlington Free Press that reads, "We vehemently disagree with the process and the findings of a proceeding that lacked fundamental fairness and due process. We strongly believe the University's decision was contrary to the facts and the law. We intend to pursue justice for Mr. Woodcroft, who has been an outstanding coach and community advocate for over two decades."

However, it seems that Schulman is confident that the right decision was made in light of what the investigation found.

"I read his attorney's comments," Schulman said during the press conference announcing the change. "Again, I feel very confident in the university's process - that it was thorough, that it was fair, that Todd was afforded due process throughout - and when the final report came to me I was comfortable that the findings were substantiated. And I was able to act on that information with a high level of confidence."

I'm not here to speculate on what Woodcroft wrote in those text messages, but we'll see if they appeal the dismissal. What should be noted in this decision by the University of Vermont is that "[t]he University of Vermont Athletic Department has high expectations for the conduct of our coaches" and "Coach Woodcroft failed to meet those expectations" as per their statement on Tuesday. Being that this case involved a UVM student, the University of Vermont had no options other than investigating the complaint.

Whatever was written in those text messages clearly violated Vermont's AAEO Offices' policies on misconduct, harassment, and discrimination including, but not limited to, affirmative action and the Americans with Disabilities Act, and I don't know how Woodcroft and his lawyer believe there was a lack of "fundamental fairness and due process". Again, it was a four-month investigation, not some overnight decision, and the evidence that the AAEO Office would need to have Woodcroft terminated would have to be fairly conclusive.

We all may be curious about what was written in those texts that forced Vermont to terminate Todd Woodcroft's employment, but I'm not sure we need to know. All that matters is Todd Woodcroft acted in an unprofessional manner that went contrary to the policies of Vermont's AAEO Office, and that's more than enough reason to end Woodcroft's run as the head coach.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!