VCU Investigation Says Coach Not Fired For Being Gay

Officials at Virginia Commonwealth University say that an "exhaustive" investigation found former women's volleyball coach James Finley's claims was not fired for being gay, as he believes; the claims were "unfounded," they said. "The Office of Institutional Equity’s exhaustive investigation confirmed that the employment decision was made in accordance with VCU policies and not as the result of any discriminatory action by our athletic director," said University President Michael Rao in a statement. "I continue to have confidence in the process that produced the report and in Ed McLaughlin as VCU’s athletic director." He went on to say that the school works "vigorously" to be as inclusive as possible. "I have a personal, passionate commitment to advancing diversity in all of its forms and expect the same of my senior leadership team. Athletic Diretor McLaughlin made similar remarks, "Diversity and inclusiveness are core values for me, too, and VCU’s diverse environment was one of the reasons my family and I chose to come here."