Garrett Probes Complaints Against Usc Women’s Coach

The status of USC women’s basketball coach Fred Williams remains in doubt after several players voiced complaints to athletic director Mike Garrett on Tuesday.

Williams, who is also talking with UC Irvine about its vacant head coaching position, will meet with Garrett on Thursday to answer the players’ concerns.

“The girls are not happy,” Garrett said. “I’ve never talked to Fred about these things and I want to get a feeling of what’s reality and what’s not.”

Garrett said the concerns revolve around the players’ “personal growth and athletic development.” Garrett said he would make a decision about Williams’ fate next week.

Williams, 40, led USC to a 20-9 record last season and a 13-14 record in 1995-96 after taking over for Cheryl Miller. Although USC finished third in the Pacific-10 Conference this season and won its first NCAA Tournament game since 1994, there have been concerns within the athletic department about his recruiting ability.

USC has signed only one player, forward Tashara Carter of Bishop Montgomery, so far this year.

Among the players with whom Williams has had problems is redshirt freshman guard Kim Clark. Williams kicked Clark out of several practices.