“I am excited about the upcoming season for Memphis Softball.” “I am excited about the future of the program”
These were the words of, then, head softball coach at Memphis, Stephanie Prothro, on June 5th when we had a conversation about the upcoming season at Memphis. We also discussed the Womens College World Series that was taking place. In what we found to be a odd turn of events, on June 17th, we confirmed through sources of Prothro accepting a position at Florida as their Pitching Coach.
This decision turned out to be a great thing for the program, its players, and much more.
After conducting exclusive interviews with several players who experienced the Prothro era, which ended in a 14-87 record at Memphis, it became evident that, at the time, there were significant issues within the program. These players, anonymously, opened our eyes to allegations of a lack of concern for injured players, mental abuse, and a lack of care for the players on the roster.
Lack Of Concern For Injuries
Based on these interviews, under Prothro the Memphis Softball program was, to say the least, toxic for the players. The toxicity began with a lack of concern of injury which is concerning on numerous levels.
One player shared her story of feeling disrespected, useless, and mentally torn down under Prothro’s leadership. She described being “blacklisted” and feeling like she was never going to be good enough in Prothro’s eyes. After pitching over 100 pitches in a game, while injured, she stated she was “Yelled at for receiving a second opinion” after needing assistance coming off the field due to the pain
The impact of this management style was validated by an additional player who had also been injured under Prothro. This player, who described herself to us as a “leader” stated that “There was not very much sympathy for injured players. I would say no sympathy at all for injured players.”
We spoke with another player who was not injured while at Memphis yet would paint a daunting picture on the treatment of the injured players
“I personally was never injured but at times I would need to get treatment due to all the stress on my body and at times I truly felt ignored. Or we’d get in trouble for being injured or we would be called liars and we’re faking it or we’re fine and it would be ignored until it turned into something more serious. Thankfully the Lord blessed me with staying healthy during my journey at Memphis but unfortunately a few of my teammates were truly ignored until the injury got worse.”
We were told exclusively that players would bring these issues to the desk of Protro and it would, based on this encounter, fall of deaf ears. The player informed us “I specifically had a sit down meeting with coach Steph to discuss it and say that she was not being treated fairly by either staff or by coach Steph herself. And she didn’t really respect my opinion on it. I would say that she was more so criticizing he athletic trainer and student athlete for not bringing it to her attention herself.”
In My Head
If the injuries were not bad enough these players said they had to deal with issues at a much deeper level and that is mentally. Each player spoke of the bodily injuires beng the least of their worries with the staff. Statements such as being “Ridiculed for having emotions about those injuries that was something that I personally experienced”
To go even further we woud be told that Prothro and the staff took her love of the game of softball from her because of mental abuse.
“I feel like I got my last year of softball taken away from me, robbed from a girl who always dreamed of playing D1, where softball had always been my saving grace through all my life hardships. I let her rob my love for the game and now I’m learning to love this sport again.”
This player continued by saying she her therapy, which started in high school, was “My last year it was about how to get through softball and deal with my mental trauma from being on the team.” and that “Therapy truly saved me and is one of the only reasons I was able to get through the year.”
To look up to an esteemed coach in Prothro is what the roster at Memphis did. When they received this type of treatment and reaction they were puzzled and hurt. Words such as “ …this woman literally… made me feel like I was absolutely nothing. She would tell people she wants me gone. She would tell people she wants other people gone.” speaks to a lack of care for the players themselves.
Actions such as this makes the final record after her tenure come into focus.
When a player says the following statement the wins were never going to happen.
“When I tell you it was the worst experience of my entire life playing for that woman I would not wish what happened to me upon my worst enemy. She made me feel like I didn’t belong on this planet and that I needed to be gone. And the fact that someone who is so well respected in the softball community and so well-liked could make not only me feel that way, but I was 19, 20 at the time. I know I’m over 18 and I’m an adult, but I was a kid going through college who just wanted to impress someone that taught people who I looked up to. I looked up to Stephanie when she got there, and it shook my world. So I just, I wish nothing that happened to me upon anybody.”
HER Girls
We mentioned above that Prothro made the team feel as if they were not “Her” girls. In the first season at the helm, in an interview where Prothro stated she “Was excited to get her girls in” when referring to building a roster and program in her vision. With this, we were told the team in the locker room at that time took this personally based on the above treatment. In addition, they relayed an environment that was lacking continuity and leadership.
Players told us statements like “Just because our leadership was terrible and they didn’t know what they were doing doesn’t mean I didn’t love the game and I gave this sport everything! Unfortunately, coach Steph made it clear that we weren’t “HER” girls and she didn’t want me back and really pushed me to get in the transfer portal.” it tells a dark story of lack of care. Furthermore, comments like “I had to deal with leadership that I had never dealt with before and figure out how to respect those who might not respect me.” and “As a team we were all excited about our new coach but from the JUMP she made it clear we weren’t good enough for her,.” begs the question did she care?
We were told the following that has led us to the idea that the answer was simple. No, she didn’t.
“Coach Steph came in as a new coach to a completely new program. And I think we gave her a lot of grace that it was going to be difficult for her, a difficult transition. And I don’t think that we were given very much grace in return that we were also having to adapt to a new coaching staff than we had had for the last four years for some of us. And I don’t think that she tried very hard to get to know us on a personal level.”
“So, I think that is necessary in a team. I don’t need to be best friends with my coach, but I do think I need to know that she cares for me more than who I am on the field. And I think she put very little effort into that for many of us, myself included. I think there were others that she did dig a little bit deeper into, but I think speaking just for myself, I didn’t feel any of that myself”
Overall, the testimonials from former players paint a troubling picture of the Memphis Softball Program under Stephanie Prothro’s leadership. The lack of support for injured players, the alleged emotional abuse inflicted on athletes, and the reported lack of care for the roster and program must be addressed to ensure the well-being of student-athletes in the future. The players who have come forward have shown incredible courage in speaking out against these injustices, and it is now up to the university and athletic department to take decisive action in response to these allegations. The Fight Like Tigers motto should not be used to justify harmful practices within the program, but instead, to empower athletes to stand up for their rights and demand a safe and supportive environment for all..
While changes will not alleviate the damage caused in the Prothro era it will alleviate a toxic and unprofessional enviroment for the University. More than this, this will alleviate a pattern of behavior that is not needed at any level of any program.
Memphis hired Trena Prater to fill the position following Prothro. The dark clouds of the above allegations will hopefully shine with light.
These players have been fighting more than many were aware.
Is it past time for fight for these same Tigers?
