Wicks explains departure; Portland stands firm

Since former Penn State women's basketball player Courtney Wicks left the team Dec. 4, the reasons for her departure were shrouded in a cloud of confusion as different sides of the story were presented by Courtney's father, Milton Wicks, and Lady Lion coach Rene Portland.

After Wicks left the team, her father accused Portland of verbally and psychologically abusing his daughter. In turn, Portland denied those accusations, saying Milton Wicks did not know enough about the situation to comment. In addition, Portland added that Courtney Wicks failed to live by her code of conduct and was upset by a lack of playing time.

Courtney Wicks, former Penn State women's basketball player

"I didn't think, as far as basketball-wise, when I first started here that I was really given a fair shot," Wicks said. "I was getting a lot of playing time. That didn't have anything to do with it."

Wicks, the fourth Lion to leave the team in 10 months, said almost from the moment of her arrival at Penn State, her experience with Portland and the team was not what she expected. According to Wicks, off-the-court issues became prevalent on the team. She said Portland's handling of these matters disillusioned her.

"My problems with (Portland) started in October of my freshman year. I kind of saw a different person than the one who came into my home," Wicks said. "It's not the stuff on the court that gets you. Everything that is totally irrelevant to basketball is what gets you. She makes the irrelevant stuff relevant."

The majority of the irrelevant things to which Wicks referred dealt with Portland getting involved in her personal life. What disturbed the former guard most was the way she said Portland encouraged her players to inform on each other. According to Wicks, because of these conditions, it was nearly impossible to trust anyone on the team.

"I never had a coach who got involved in my personal life. Personal stuff ends up getting on the court. She doesn't separate the two," Wicks said. "She puts players against each other. People rat on each other all the time. It's hard to trust people if your whole system consists of back stabbing. We are supposed to be this classy program where everything is great, but it's fake."

Former Lion center Julie Jarosz, who left the team last February, agreed with Wicks' claims. She said nothing was ever confidential on the team.

"She was so involved in our personal lives and that's not necessary," Jarosz said. "We always used to swear our rooms were bugged because you would say something once and Rene would find out about it."

Portland verified that players often come to her with personal matters about other players, but she added that her players only reveal things to her for the good of the team.

"When people are out of line, that's not snitching," Portland said. "I'm responsible for these kids."

Portland also said Wicks would often come to her with non-basketball related issues she did not want to know about.

Although she was surprised with what she saw in her first year, Wicks said things took a turn for the worse when she injured her ankle Nov. 26 in a pre-game collision with Helen Darling before the Kansas game. Although Wicks said she had poor lateral movement before the game, the former guard saw limited action not only against the Jayhawks, but also in the Lions' next two games against Louisville and Quinnipiac.

Wicks said that although she was in pain, Portland insisted that she play. According to the former Lion, Portland treated her unfairly because of her response to the injury.

Wicks said she was frustrated and insulted by the way Portland handled the situation. She said she has never backed down from playing through adversity.

"Anyone who has ever coached me or played with me would tell you it takes a lot for me not to play," Wicks explained.

Portland provided team medical records that charted Wicks' progress after the week of all three games were played. Before the Kansas game, the medical report stated that Wicks had a mild ankle sprain with no swelling or ligament instability. Wicks also indicated in the report that she "felt good" before the Kansas game.

The records after the Kansas game show continued progress each day leading up to the games with Louisville and Quinnipiac. The day of the Louisville game the report said Wicks had full range of motion and that again she indicated feeling good. For the Quinnipiac game Wicks indicated feeling "very good" and was recorded as having no problems in the game with Lady Cardinals.

Despite Wicks' reaction to leaving the Lion program, Penn State Athletic Director Tim Curley said the University stands behind Portland. He added that he regrets Wicks did not enjoy her time at Penn State, but he said it was through no fault of Portland.

"We are fully supportive of the actions taken by Rene Portland," Curley said. "We have the greatest confidence in Rene Portland as a coach and a positive role model for young women."