Three months after he was removed as coach of Memorial University’s women’s volleyball team while the university conducted an investigation into a formal complaint, John Slauenwhite has been cleared to resume his duties as the Sea-Hawks’ coach.
Slauenwhite was removed from his coaching position in February pending the outcome of an internal investigation following a formal complaint received by the university.
Dave Sorenson, Memorial's manager of communications, said at the time that any complaint of sexual harassment or sexual assault at the university is directed to the Sexual Harassment Office, and governed by the university's sexual harassment and sexual assault policy.
That did not apply to the Slauenwhite investigation.
This week, Memorial issued the following statement regarding Slauenwhite:
“The university’s non-academic appeals procedures were established to ensure that student complaints about university employees are dealt with in a fair and equitable manner. The procedures outline the process for resolving the complaints, first attempting an informal resolution and then, if necessary, by an investigation into a formal complaint.
“In the case of the women’s volleyball coach, the university appointed an external reviewer to examine the complaint.
“The investigator delivered a report to the provost on April 20. The investigator said that all parties involved in the investigation were credible. The investigator also said the evidence did not support the allegations. The provost has accepted the findings within the report.
“However, the report did make some recommendations on improving the environment around the volleyball team. The School of Human Kinetics and Recreation will take those findings into account as it seeks to improve the environment for work, study and play.”
Slauenwhite, a Nova Scotia native, is a full-time volleyball coach at Memorial. In 2015-16, his second year at the helm, Slauenwhite led the Sea-Hawks to their first winning season in eight years, and Memorial's first AUS championship game appearance in 16 years.
The Sea-Hawks repeated that feat last season.
This year, Memorial finished 8-12 for the fourth and final playoff spot in the AUS. The Sea-Hawks dropped a 3-0 decision to Dalhousie University in the playoffs.
Bill Thistle, who coached the Sea-Hawks prior to Slauenwhite’s arrival in 2014, guided Memorial in Slauenwhite’s absence.
