Virginia Tech soccer players release statement defending coach after BLM kneeling lawsuit

A group of 76 members of the Virginia Tech women’s soccer team from 2020 has released a public statement in defense of head coach Charles “Chugger” Adair, who was sued by a member of the team for allegedly benching her after she refused to take part in a kneeling protest in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.

The statement comes on the heels of a judge awarding former player Kiersten Hening, who sued the coach over the incident and was awarded a $100,000 settlement.

In the lawsuit, Hening claims she was given minimal playing time and was benched by Adair because her coach was frustrated with her political views, and because she would not participate in kneeling during the national anthem along with her teammates. Hening filed the suit in 2021 and settled this week with no findings of wrongdoing on either side.

The statement from the 76 other players, which was Tweeted on January 9, reads, “We firmly stand in support of our Coach Charles “Chugger” Adair, against what we believe are baseless allegations made against him.”

The statement continues, “… we all believe that his behavior, both past and present, has consistently been of the highest professional calibur.”

After the verdict was rendered, Adair said to reporters, “It’s unfortunate, but this ordeal was about a disappointment and disagreement about playing time. Today, we have clarity that this case lacked any standing, and without evidence, the truth has prevailed.”