Updated at 4:50 p.m. Monday: Wichita State University is replacing women's basketball coach Jody Adams-Birch in what it called an amicable parting.
A news release issued Sunday did not say whether Adams-Birch was fired or resigned. At a press conference Monday, Wichita State University officials remained tight-lipped about the departure, except to say they "mutually and amicably agreed to part ways."
The university removed Adams-Birch from the team Thursday without any public explanation. Two players have left the team this season. In 2015, four players transferred and Adams-Birch was accused of being mentally and physically abusive. After an investigation, she kept her job with some program changes.
WSU Athletic Director Darron Boatright wouldn't comment on the situation at Monday's press conference, but said there were concerns he found out about on Thursday that he “wanted to look into.”
"After that, on Friday, it became apparent that we would be working on a separation agreement," he said.
As coach Adams-Birch compiled a record of 161-115. Three Shocker teams went to the NCAA Tournament and Wichita State won three Missouri Valley Conference regular-season championships and three postseason tournament championships.
Former Shockers women's coach Linda Hargrove will lead the team for the rest of this season before a national search for a replacement begins. Hargrove led the Shockers to 113 wins as head coach between 1989 and 1998 before moving on to the professional level.
According to her WSU bio, Hargrove has a total of 36 seasons of coaching experience, and was an assistant coach on the 1992 Olympic team, which won a bronze medal in Barcelona.
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