Elgin girls basketball coach Whitney Ludwell resigns because of 'unruly' team parent

Whitney Ludwell has been flooded with messages since announcing her Monday resignation as Elgin’s girls basketball coach.

Some coaches can relate to her. Other people have simply offered compassion.

“It’s just a really sad situation,” Ludwell told The Oklahoman on Tuesday. “I’m in shock at how much support and love has been poured out and how it’s not the only situation (like this) in Oklahoma.”

Partway through her first season as Elgin’s head coach, Ludwell stepped down from the position, submitting her resignation email Monday to Elgin superintendent Nathaniel Meraz.

In a public Facebook post, Ludwell explained why she “had to walk away” from her coaching job 70 miles southwest of Oklahoma City.

“An unruly parent that has crossed the line in multiple ways, yelling and cussing at me, for everyone to hear, game after game – has won,” Ludwell said in the post. “I’m so sad for what high school sports are becoming.”

More: Vote for The Oklahoman's Landmark Fine Homes HS girls athletes of week for Jan. 16-22

Okarche girls basketball coach resigned in December after complaints

This isn’t the only case of an Oklahoma high school girls basketball coach resigning this season in response to parents’ actions. In December, Okarche coach Haley Mitchel resigned after receiving complaints that included the threat of a potential lawsuit and accused her of being excessively tough on players.

Ludwell said the situation involving the Elgin mother was stressful, but she had initially planned to “tough it out.”

“The way my (Facebook) post sounds (is) like I just quit,” Ludwell told The Oklahoman. “And that’s not entirely true.”

Ludwell said she was preparing for basketball practice Monday when she received a call from Meraz encouraging her to resign and consider it a “mutual decision,” saying it would be best for her health to not deal with the stress anymore. Ludwell submitted her resignation email afterward, citing the previously mentioned parent's behavior as a reason.

“I was just going to deal with it,” Ludwell said, “but he encouraged me just to walk away.”

Meraz was unavailable Tuesday when The Oklahoman attempted to reach him. An Elgin Public Schools representative said Meraz was out of town attending a conference.

Meraz’s son Tanner was elevated to interim head coach after previously serving as an assistant on Ludwell’s staff. The Class 5A Owls were 9-7 heading into Tuesday’s home game against Altus.

Athletic director Damon Hitt said Ludwell’s resignation has not been confirmed at a school board meeting.

“Coach Ludwell’s resignation was a surprise,” Hitt said in a text message to The Oklahoman. “She always tried to care for and coach her players as if they were her own. In reference to personnel matters, we have no further comment other than to acknowledge the factual statement that we did receive the resignation.”

More: Vote for The Oklahoman's Landmark Fine Homes HS boys athlete of the week for Jan. 16-22

What sparked Elgin girls basketball coach's resignation

Ludwell’s resignation followed an incident involving the Elgin mother at the Heart of Oklahoma Tournament in Purcell during the past weekend. Ludwell said the parent cursed, yelled at her and proclaimed to surrounding fans that Ludwell “sucked.” During the Owls’ Saturday game, Ludwell’s stepmother asked the Elgin parent to stop yelling at Ludwell, and an altercation between her stepmother and the Elgin parent ensued until police stepped in, according to Ludwell.

Ludwell said she talked to Meraz after the mother yelled and told her to “take lessons from the other coach” during the Weatherford Tournament in early January. Ludwell said Meraz told her he would “take care of” the issue.

Before taking over as head coach, Ludwell spent the 2022-23 season at Elgin as an assistant coach for her father, Brett Sanders. He stepped down at Elgin after one season, and Ludwell succeeded him. Ludwell told The Oklahoman her father had dealt with a similar issue involving the same parent and realized it was “not worth it” to stay in the position.

Ludwell said she is emotional about her resignation and wants the best for the team. She also discussed the difficulties of coaching in an era in which hostile parent behavior is becoming increasingly common.

“I’ve never degraded these girls,” Ludwell said. “I’ve never cussed at these girls. I’ve never done anything but try my best and try to make them better people. I have (team) rules, and there’s been consequences for not following the rules, but nothing crazy.

“I don’t really know how the normal coach that isn’t just super tough-skinned, how they navigate it anymore. I really don’t know.”

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Elgin basketball coach Whitney Ludwell resigns due to 'unruly' parent