UE head coach Jerry Yee suspended for the rest of UAAP Season 86
THE UNIVERSITY Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) has suspended University of the East (UE) head coach Jerry Yee for the rest of the ongoing Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament.
The UAAP said the decision was based on a complaint of one its member schools “on account of conduct violative of the purposes of the UAAP, a platform for Member Universities to foster camaraderie and fair play.”
Mr. Yee’s suspension will not affect UE’s win-loss record and he may still train Lady Warriors and coach the team in non-UAAP events. “After a thorough deliberation by the UAAP Board of Managing Directors (BMD), a recommendation was elevated to the Board of Trustees (BOT). On Feb. 29, 2024, the BOT concurred with the BMD findings that coach Yee had engaged in acts inconsistent with the league’s objectives,” the UAAP said.
The UAAP did not disclose the said member school that raised the complaint but the issue apparently stemmed on Mr. Yee’s departure from his former team Adamson, according to his own statement. Mr. Yee blasted the “unfair” UAAP decision and cleared once and for all that there was “no ethical breach” with regards his “mutual” Adamson exit and later on appointment as the UE head coach. “I express my utmost disappointment with the UAAP board’s decision to suspend me for the rest of the season,” said Mr. Yee.
“I maintain that there was no ethical breach in my decision to accept UE’s head coaching job because it was a mutual parting of ways for both Adamson and me. Unfortunately, this career decision of mine has been met with vitriol at the late onset, born out of vindictiveness, ironically from an institution that prides itself on instilling Catholic virtues and teachings.”
Mr. Yee, who also mentors two-time champion College of St. Benilde in the NCAA, authored Adamson’s UAAP Final Four return in Season 85 after a nine-year drought before his appointment as head coach of Farm Fresh in the PVL.
That development led to a conflict between two parties as Adamson’s backer, Akari, also plays in the PVL — resulting into their separation last June as per Mr. Yee.
Shortly after, Mr. Yee found a new home in UE, which he promises to help in turning its fortunes around in the UAAP volleyball despite a dilemma that snowballed into the ongoing season where the Lady Warriors are showcasing some potential for the first time in years.
“My commitment to restoring a winning culture to the UE Lady Warriors remains steadfast despite the tremendous disadvantage we now face as a team without its leader. Nonetheless, I will continue to perform my duties as coach to the Lady Warriors despite this unmerited decision by the board,” he concluded. — John Bryan Ulanday