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Embattled
Rene Portland resigns from Penn State
 Rene
Portland, women’s basketball coach at Penn State for the
past 27 years, who claimed she had a "no lesbians" policy on
her team, has resigned, effective immediately.
Portland submitted her
resignation to Tim Curley, Director of Athletics, yesterday
evening. Curley said a nationwide search for a new coach
will begin immediately.
Portland was the focus of an
investigation and lawsuit brought by former Penn State
player Jennifer Harris who claimed she was forced from the
basketball team because Portland perceived her to be
lesbian. Penn State
reprimanded Portland and settled with Harris just over a
year ago.
“This was obviously a
difficult decision,” said Portland. “I am very appreciative
of the opportunity to coach at Penn State, which has become
a special place for me and my family. I am proud of what we
have been able to accomplish with the Lady Lion program
through the years.”
“I appreciate what Rene has
done for the women’s basketball program,” Curley said. “Rene
has been a member of the Penn State and State College
communities for more than 25 years and has had a positive
impact on the lives of student-athletes and others outside
of the basketball program. Rene and her staff have worked
very hard to produce teams that were competitive nationally
and within the Big Ten. I join all Penn Staters in wishing
Rene and her family the best in the future.”
A native of Broomall, Pa.,
Portland is a 1975 graduate of Immaculata College and played
on three consecutive national championship teams. She was
named head coach at St. Joseph’s for the 1976-77 season and
coached there for two years before a two-year tenure at
Colorado. She was named Penn State’s fourth head coach in
program history on May 20, 1980.
Portland compiled a 606-236
overall record during her tenure as head coach of the Lady
Lions. She previously coached at St. Joseph’s and Colorado
and has a career mark of 693-265 over 31 seasons. Penn State
was 15-16 this season, with a 7-9 mark in Big Ten play.
Earlier this season Portland became just the ninth women’s
basketball coach to win 600 games at one school.
The Lady Lions played in 21
NCAA Tournaments under Portland, advancing to the 2000 Final
Four, and won the 1998 Women’s NIT. During Portland’s tenure
as head coach, Penn State earned five Big Ten Championships
since starting play in the conference in 1992-93 and two Big
Ten Tournament titles.
Outsports.com & PSU press release contributed to this story
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