{"id":12274,"date":"2025-10-06T05:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-10-06T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/claims-of-slurs-bullying-led-to-fort-lewis-college-basketball-coachs-resignation\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T03:32:41","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T03:32:41","slug":"claims-of-slurs-bullying-led-to-fort-lewis-college-basketball-coachs-resignation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/claims-of-slurs-bullying-led-to-fort-lewis-college-basketball-coachs-resignation\/","title":{"rendered":"Claims of slurs, bullying led to Fort Lewis College basketball coach\u2019s resignation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"Bob
Bob Pietrack, former Fort Lewis College basketball coach, was asked to resign in 2024 after an internal investigation validated allegations of his use of racial and sexual slurs. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald file)<\/span>du1-i-syn<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>
Former Fort Lewis College men\u2019s basketball coach Bob Pietrack declined to comment for this story. Several months later, he denied many of the allegations made against him. A story detailing those denials can be found here<\/a>.<\/div>\n

When Bob Pietrack took up the mantle of head coach for the Fort Lewis College men\u2019s basketball team in 2015, he stepped up to the occasion.<\/p>\n

He achieved 100 wins faster than any coach in any sport at FLC. Under his leadership, FLC won three Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference regular-season championships, three RMAC tournament titles and broke numerous records.<\/p>\n

Pietrack was riding high.<\/p>\n

But in the spring of 2024, the apparent star of the FLC athletic department abruptly resigned and slipped away from the spotlight.<\/p>\n

He cited \u201cpersonal reasons\u201d in an X post, but interviews and internal records obtained by The Durango Herald<\/em> tell a different story.<\/p>\n

\"Bob
Bob Pietrack\u2019s resignation announcement on social media platform X. (Screenshot)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

It\u2019s a familiar narrative: A person in a power, undone by their own words \u2013 in Pietrack\u2019s case the regular use of crude, derogatory language involving women and minorities.<\/p>\n

On April 2, 2024, the athletic department received a four-page, single-spaced letter accusing Pietrack of academic misconduct, threatening and coercive behavior, and the frequent use of racial, homophobic and sexist slurs.<\/p>\n

The letter from Daniel Steffensen, former assistant coach under Pietrack\u2019s leadership, sparked an internal investigation that resulted in Pietrack\u2019s forced resignation less than a month later.<\/p>\n

Denigrating Black players<\/div>\n

\"Fort
Fort Lewis College men\u2019s basketball coach Bob Pietrack in February 2016. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald file)<\/span>du1-i-syn<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

According to colleagues and former players, Pietrack frequently used variations of the N-word \u2013 in writing, in the locker room, and in casual conversation in and out of the office.<\/p>\n

Three members of the athletic department described a February 2024 incident in which Pietrack used the \u201cN-word\u201d to describe a Black student athlete, according to interviews conducted by David Pirrone, director of compliance and community standards at FLC.<\/p>\n

Additionally, they spoke of Pietrack\u2019s recurring usage of the term \u201cNinga or Ningas\u201d to refer to Black student-athletes, and his frequent use of homophobic or sexist slurs to describe or mock gay or female athletic co-workers.<\/p>\n

Pirrone formally recommended Pietrack\u2019s immediate termination, according to an April 22, 2024, email to the athletic director. His email quoted staff members he interviewed, using brackets to clarify their sentiments.<\/p>\n

One staff member said: \u201cWe have all had these feelings and observations [about mistrust, racist, homophobic and sexist comments] long before receiving Daniel Steffensen\u2019s email.\u201d<\/p>\n

FLC reviewed multiple text messages Pietrack sent to Steffensen and others, in which he used the word \u201cnegro\u201d in casual conversation and made lewd comments about members of the female coaching staff.<\/p>\n

The messages were obtained by the Herald<\/em> as part of an open records request through the college.<\/p>\n

\"Text
Text messages between Bob Pietrack and Daniel Steffensen. (Courtesy of Fort Lewis College)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Text
Text messages between Bob Pietrack, Daniel Steffensen and a friend outside the Fort Lewis College athletics department. (Courtesy of Fort Lewis College)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

In one text message thread, a sender shared an old photo of a female colleague on the basketball court. Pietrack responded: \u201cSo sick of the women leader bull\u2014t,\u201d and \u201cWhy are they so special? Go to work like the rest of us \u2026 stains.\u201d<\/p>\n

When confronted about the texts by the college, Pietrack said he had not used any of those words in a \u201cracial way\u201d and said his comments about female staff members were simply private conversations among friends, according to Pirrone\u2019s report.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe used to call us African American players \u2018ninjas\u2019 all the time,\u201d said one former player, who asked not to be named for fear of retaliation. \u201cNinja,\u201d he explained, was Pietrack\u2019s way of saying the N-word without saying it outright.<\/p>\n

He added that during games, Pietrack would make reference to the team\u2019s number of Black players to try to motivate them.<\/p>\n

The player, who is Black, recalled Pietrack saying, \u201cWe got a bunch of ninjas. So we should be able to gang up on them and take it. They shouldn\u2019t be able to take this game from you. They shouldn\u2019t be able to get nothing from us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Team members never reported Pietrack\u2019s comments outside their circle, the player said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe used to just laugh it off because we knew who he was, like he wanted to be one of us,\u201d the player said.<\/p>\n

The same player said Pietrack bristled at not being able to use the N-word freely.<\/p>\n

\u201cHis last year, before he resigned, there were way more African Americans on the team than we\u2019d ever had,\u201d the player said. \u201cAnd you know, we usually use that word a lot, because that\u2019s just how we played. I just know he made them stop saying it because he couldn\u2019t say it too. He was just that type of guy.\u201d<\/p>\n

A toxic culture<\/div>\n

\"When
When confronted about his use of racial and sexual slurs, former Fort Lewis College men\u2019s basketball Coach Bob Pietrack said he had not used those words in a \u201cracial way\u201d and that his comments about female staff members were simply private conversations among friends. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald file)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Interviews with staff members and internal documents from 2020 reveal Pietrack had a track record of aggressive, bullying behavior.<\/p>\n

In 2020, Joshua Coon, a professor and cross-country coach, filed a complaint alleging discriminatory harassment.<\/p>\n

Several weeks into the semester, Coon emailed all of his students who had been skipping class, informing them of the requirements for an upcoming assignment. Two of them were players on the basketball team.<\/p>\n

For some reason, that enraged Pietrack, who confronted Coon and accused him of racial profiling, Coon told the Herald<\/em>. Pietrack threatened to report Coon for a Title IX violation, Coon said, but instead he said he would \u201ckeep Coon in his back pocket.\u201d<\/p>\n

Neither of Pietrack\u2019s two basketball players had been to a single class, Coon said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d never met the guys. I wouldn\u2019t even know what their race was,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

According to Coon, Pietrack constantly asked him to do favors for players who struggled academically, including granting them extensions, more lenient grading and last-minute enrollments.<\/p>\n

The administrator who handled Coon\u2019s 2020 complaint documented the college\u2019s response, including a conversation with Pietrack about the incident. During that exchange, the administrator told Pietrack that other faculty members also reported feeling bullied by him because he had asked them to do favors for his players to help them in school.<\/p>\n

\u201cI told Mr. Pietrack of the reputation that had been previously reported (being a bully) and that it was not just from Josh Coon,\u201d the memo read.<\/p>\n

The college barred Pietrack from approaching professors directly \u2013 a solution Coon said felt inadequate.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt felt like they kind of just ignored it,\u201d he said in an interview with the Herald<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Steffensen, Pietrack\u2019s assistant coach, recalled Pietrack bragging after the dust-up with Coon: \u201cHe said, \u2018I really stung Coon, and I got him good,\u2019\u201d Steffensen said in an interview with the Herald<\/em>. \u201cAnd no one\u2019s gonna mess with my (N-word). Those are my (N-words), and no one messes with my little N-word from Amarillo.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s when I knew it was time to resign,\u201d Steffensen said. \u201cMy biggest regret in all of this was not going to the AD (athletic director) earlier and self-reporting.\u201d<\/p>\n

During the investigation into Pietrack\u2019s behavior, several members of the athletic department said they would leave \u2013 along with half the team \u2013 if Pietrack returned as head coach.<\/p>\n

One of Pietrack\u2019s assistant coaches said, \u201cAlthough we did well [in the basketball season] and we should be focusing on our great season, all we can think about is the toxic work environment,\u201d according to the email recommending Pietrack\u2019s termination.<\/p>\n

According to the recollections of two former players, the program under Pietrack prized winning above all else, including the overall well-being and academic success of the players.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you\u2019re not doing anything for him on the basketball stage, he doesn\u2019t really care about you,\u201d a player said. \u201cI believe you should care about all your players, no matter what they do for you, because you brought them into the program.\u201d<\/p>\n

Steffensen accused Pietrack of cutting players who were on scholarships when they were mere semesters away from graduating so he could reallocate their scholarship money to newer, younger and more promising recruits.<\/p>\n

After leaving FLC, Pietrack took a coaching position at Ferris State University in Michigan.<\/p>\n

He declined to comment for this story.<\/p>\n

A day after being reached for comment, Pietrack resigned from Ferris State University citing \u201ca serious personal health issue\u201d and saying he wanted to return to Colorado to be closer to family, according to a Sept. 26 Ferris State news release<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Allegations of academic misconduct<\/div>\n

\"Fort
Fort Lewis College men\u2019s basketball head coach Bob Pietrack talks with players on March 5, 2024, during the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference quarter finals. FLC\u2019s director of compliance and community standards formally recommended Pietrack\u2019s employment be terminated in April 2024 after reviewing text messages that contained racial slurs. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald file)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Steffensen\u2019s letter to FLC also accused Pietrack of academic tampering.<\/p>\n

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the NCAA granted athletes an extra year of eligibility. Steffensen alleged that when star player Akuel Kot looked likely to transfer to a Division I program, Pietrack deliberately manipulated his class schedule to keep him from graduating on time.<\/p>\n

Pietrack personally took over Kot\u2019s registration \u2013 something he had never done before \u2013 and limited Kot\u2019s credit hours so he would remain eligible at FLC but fall short of the 96 credits needed to transfer, Steffensen said.<\/p>\n

This left Kot \u201ctrapped\u201d unless another school admitted him despite the credit shortfall, Steffensen told the Herald<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Multiple Division I programs \u2013 including Furman, Western Kentucky, Sacramento State, Oral Roberts, New Mexico State and Sam Houston State \u2013 wanted to recruit Kot but concluded he lacked the credits to qualify. Ultimately, the University of Wyoming accepted him, where he became a starter.<\/p>\n

Steffensen described Pietrack\u2019s actions as deliberate academic tampering \u2013 prioritizing the team roster over a player\u2019s future.<\/p>\n

But those allegations have not been verified by the college, and the Herald\u2019s<\/em> attempts to contact Kot were unsuccessful.<\/p>\n

The recommendation to terminate Pietrack was based on evidence that he used slurs and engaged in bullying \u2013 a direct violation of the college\u2019s discriminatory harassment policy, according to Pirrone\u2019s investigation, which made no mention of academic misconduct.<\/p>\n

Fort Lewis College declined to say whether it investigated allegations of academic misconduct or whether it reached out to former players to corroborate Steffensen\u2019s allegations.<\/p>\n

The college also did not answer <\/em>questions about whether it made any systematic changes to prevent similar types of behavior from occurring in the future or whether it implemented any new mechanisms to encourage students, faculty and staff to report such behaviors.<\/p>\n

\u201cFLC does not comment on personnel matters,\u201d the college said. \u201cFort Lewis College is committed to maintaining a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for students, faculty, and staff.\u201d<\/p>\n

The whistleblower<\/div>\n

\"Faculty
Faculty members reported bullying-like behavior from Fort Lewis College men\u2019s basketball coach Bob Pietrack. At one point, he was barred from directly approaching professors to discuss his student-athletes. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald file)<\/span>du1-i-syn<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Steffensen admits he is not above reproach.<\/p>\n

He observed and participated in the lewd, racist, sexist and homophobic banter for years without reporting it to the college.<\/p>\n

Texts between him and Pietrack show that Steffensen also used the N-word \u2013 liberally.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was wrong. I was inappropriate. It\u2019s not OK,\u201d Steffensen said.<\/p>\n

After resigning in 2021, it took him several years to write a letter detailing Pietrack\u2019s alleged behavior.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter I resigned, I tried to walk away quietly. I didn\u2019t want to carry this burden,\u201d Steffensen said. \u201cI just wanted to walk away, and prayed it would disappear.\u201d<\/p>\n

After leaving his coaching position, Steffensen remained connected to his former colleagues and the students he once coached. Naturally, stories of his former team still reached him.<\/p>\n

Other assistant coaches would tell Steffensen of the problems they were having at work \u2013 and with Pietrack.<\/p>\n

Steffensen couldn\u2019t shake the guilt.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere was a time where they came to me and said, \u2018We\u2019re having issues. We don\u2019t know what to do. How did you manage all of this?\u2019\u201d Steffensen said. \u201cAnd I said, I didn\u2019t. I resigned. I left. But I realized there\u2019s going to be more Akuels, more Daniel Steffensens, more people that keep having issues, and that\u2019s when I decided to write this letter and bear the responsibility.\u201d<\/p>\n

jbowman@durangoherald.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

A previous version of this story incorrectly said assistant coach Daniel Steffensen resigned in 2023. He resigned in 2021.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Fort
Fort Lewis College men\u2019s basketball head coach Bob Pietrack cuts down the net after winning the regular season Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference championship game against Westminster College in February 2018. It was Pietrack\u2019s second conference title in three years leading the program. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald file)<\/span>Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Pietrack quit in 2024 after a letter from his assistant coach triggered an investigation<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12275,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[600,992,1357,132,28,993,991,346],"naviga_topic":[],"class_list":["post-12274","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-basketball","tag-college-sports","tag-contests","tag-fort-lewis-college","tag-headlines","tag-investigation","tag-mens-college-sports","tag-sports"],"acf":[],"author_name":"dh_admin","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12274","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12274"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12274\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":77047,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12274\/revisions\/77047"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12275"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12274"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12274"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12274"},{"taxonomy":"naviga_topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/naviga_topic?post=12274"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}