UNC Asheville volleyball coach let go after complaints of verbal harrasment, body shaming

ASHEVILLE - The contract for UNC Asheville head volleyball coach Amber Haver will not be renewed for next season. The university confirmed the decision in a statement to the Citizen Times Dec. 6.

Haver just completed her first season as head coach. She was hired March 8 after spending five seasons at Columbia International University in South Carolina.

According to the statement, Haver was employed on a contract that ends Dec. 31.

“The University has decided not to reappoint Ms. Haver at the expiration of her current appointment,” UNCA Athletic Director Janet R. Cone said in the statement. “We appreciate the contributions Amber has made to UNC Asheville.”

Parents of UNC Asheville players took concerns of verbal harassment and body shaming to Cone and newly appointed UNCA Chancellor Kimberly van Noort, including emailing formal complaints against Haver and assistant coach Audrey Volpatti to UNCA's human resources department.

An independent investigator was brought on board to discuss these issues and examine the complaints. Players were supposed to meet with the investigator to answer questions about the state of the program.

After the complainant suggested taking legal action if the issues were not addressed, Cone decided not to retain Haver, according to Joe Allison, a parent of a player on the team this season.

"I was forwarding documents to (the university) for a month," Allison said. "I said everyone needs to call and tell your story. It just kept going. There just was no action."

Haver did not respond to requests for comment from the Citizen Times.

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In her lone season at the helm, the Bulldogs posted an 8-20 record, including 2-12 in Big South Conference play.

Haver had an overall record of 127-71 while at Columbia International. She was named the 2021 National Christian College Athletic Association Coach of the Year.

Evan Gerike is the high school sports reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email him at egerike@citizentimes.com or follow him on Twitter @EvanGerike. Please support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: UNCA volleyball coach Amber Haver let go after formal complaints