Allegations Rock WVU Women’s Basketball: Players File Formal Complaint Against Coach Mark Kellogg
In a stunning development that has sent shockwaves through the West Virginia University athletic community, three members of the WVU Women’s Basketball team have formally filed a written complaint to Athletic Director Wren Baker, accusing Head Coach Mark Kellogg of verbal abuse and, most gravely, physical assault.
The complaint, submitted last week but leaked to student media over the weekend, outlines a series of explosive allegations stemming from incidents that reportedly occurred behind closed locker room doors. According to sources close to the situation, the three players—whose identities are being withheld for their protection—claim that Kellogg’s conduct went far beyond motivational intensity, crossing into territory described as “demeaning, threatening, and at times physically aggressive.”
One passage from the complaint recounts an incident following a narrow loss to Texas Tech in January. The players allege that Coach Kellogg, visibly enraged, entered the locker room and slammed a chair against a wall before turning his fury on the team. “He yelled inches from our faces,” the complaint reads, “calling us ‘soft,’ ‘pathetic,’ and accusing us of ‘playing like cowards.’” One player states she was shoved on the shoulder during the tirade—a moment described as both physically jarring and emotionally traumatic.
Other details paint a picture of a toxic environment where fear and intimidation allegedly ruled. “He would mock our injuries, call us names in practice, and belittle us in front of male staff,” one player wrote. “It got to the point where we didn’t feel safe going to practice.”
AD Wren Baker, known for his hands-on leadership style, has acknowledged receipt of the complaint. In a brief statement released Monday morning, he stated: “We take all allegations involving student-athlete welfare seriously. A thorough, independent investigation is already underway.” No further details were given regarding the timeline or the university’s next steps, but sources confirm that the players were offered counseling and the option to temporarily step away from team activities.
Coach Mark Kellogg, who took over the WVU program in 2023 with a reputation for program-building and high expectations, has not commented publicly. A spokesperson for the athletic department confirmed that he is currently coaching the team while the investigation proceeds, a decision that has sparked protest among some students and alumni.
The broader reaction within the WVU community has been mixed—while some defend Kellogg as a passionate coach pushing his team to excellence, others say these allegations are deeply troubling and warrant immediate action. Student-athlete advocacy groups have begun organizing calls for transparency and reform within the athletic department.
Though the truth of these claims remains to be officially determined, the damage may already be done. The locker room trust has fractured, and the image of a promising new era for WVU Women’s Basketball now hangs in uncertainty. All eyes are on Morgantown, as the university navigates one of the most serious internal controversies in recent memory.
