UAAP temporarily suspends UE women's volleyball coach Jerry Yee

The UAAP on Sunday announced that it has temporarily suspended University of the East women's volleyball head coach Jerry Yee for the rest of the Season 86 women's volleyball tournament.

The league said the decision came following a complaint from a member school that alleged Yee had a "conduct violative of the purposes of the UAAP - a platform for Member Universities to foster camaraderie and fair play".

The UAAP Board of Managing Directors (BMD) deliberated the matter before elevating the decision to the Board of Trustees (BOT).

"On February 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 in a statement.

Despite the suspension, the UAAP stressed that Yee, who also calls the shots for De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde in the NCAA and Farm Fresh in the PVL, can continue with holding training sessions with the Lady Red Warriors and coaching in non-UAAP events.

"The UAAP, as an organization of educational institutions,  prioritizes maintaining a close-knit relationship among its eight member schools through healthy competition and demands the highest ethical and professional standards from those expected to mold the student-athletes."

In a statement, Yee expressed his "utmost disappointment" with the board's decision.

"I maintain that there was no ethical breach in my decision to accept UE's head coaching job, because it was a mutual parting ways for both Adamson and I," Yee said as he previously handled the Lady Falcons in Season 85.

"My dismay with the UAAP board's decision is merely secondary to the disappointment that I hold in not being able to fulfill my commitment in coaching and mentoring the UE Lady Warriors. Moreover, this decision also unduly deprives me of the right to obtain other sources of living and in providing for my family. The 3 month suspension is handed down to punish my genuine intent to be of service to the UE community, and it is most unfortunate that the undue consequences of this have extended to my family," Yee said.

"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. I will continue to perform my duties as a coach to the Lady Warriors despite this unmerited decision by the board."

UE, who currently features a 1-2 win-loss card, will take on Adamson University later at 2 p.m.

—Bea Micaller/JKC, GMA Integrated News