By Andrew Davis
Penn State University fined women's basketball coach Rene Portland $10,000 after finding she violatedpolicy in her treatment of a player who was incorrectly thought to be lesbian, The Houston Chronicle reported. The university said Portland would be dismissed for any future violation of the policy.
However, Portland has said that she intends on returning next year. In a statement reprinted on PennLive.com, the coach, among other things, maintained her innocence: 'In the last year, I have been subject to intense scrutiny because of a matter that is now in litigation. I was confronted with what I continue to believe are unfounded claims that I caused a player to leave the Lady Lions team because of her race and alleged perceptions of her sexual orientation.'
The school began the investigation after a former player, Jennifer Harris, alleged that Portland had harassed her and mentioned that lesbians were excluded from the team, according to the Chronicle.