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EXCLUSIVE: A letter signed by former longtime Yale ice hockey coach Keith Allain, addressed to Yale President Maurine McInnis, alleged that current Yale Athletic Director Victoria Chun has created a “toxic environment” for the university’s sports teams.
In the letter, Allain claimed that other Yale coaches urged him to speak out against Chun to McInnis after his retirement.
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Yale coach Keith Allain on the bench during the game against Cornell at Boardwalk Hall. Atlantic City, NJ 3/19/2011 (Lou Capozzola/Sports Illustrated/Getty Images)
“My name is Keith Allain, I just retired after 19 years as the men’s hockey coach, and I am writing to you at the request of several head coaches in our athletic department. They told me that you asked for feedback from a few coaches regarding the contract extension of our athletic director, and are concerned that with the culture of fear that may be receiving, you will not begin to get feedback from the athletic department.”
Allain went on to call Chun the “worst leader” he’s ever been around, claiming she has prioritized “silencing any dissent.”
“As a Yale alum and someone who has a great love for our university and the role of athletics in the greater Yale community, I felt compelled to write to you as my former colleagues requested. Vicky Chun is the absolute worst manager I have ever been around in my life. She is dishonest, self-centered, and unavailable. Vicky’s unique environment of exceptional talent has been created by a toxic environment and where she has created an environment of self-promotion within a department. cadres of administrators whose main job seems to be to silence all dissent,” the letter read.
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Coach Keith Allain of the Yale Bulldogs stands behind the bench during a game against the Boston University Terriers during NCAA hockey at Agganis Arena on December 13, 2016 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Terriers won 5-2. (Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images)
“I know this assessment seems harsh, and I’m willing to provide details if you were interested in learning more about my experience and how Vicky’s lack of leadership is affecting my program. As a point of reference, our team’s record before Vicky was 220 wins-144 losses-39 ties, with Vicky 62 wins-110 losses-15 ties, but we know the organization is responsible for that, or we know the organization is responsible for that. a impact.”
A source provided the letter to Pakinomist Digital. Allain later confirmed to Pakinomist Digital that he wrote the letter and sent it to McInnis in October, shortly after he stepped down after 19 years as head of Yale hockey. Allain declined further comment.
Pakinomist Digital reached out to the Yale president’s office and athletics department for a response.
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Head coach Keith Allain of the United States during practice before the 2011 IIHF World U20 Championship Group A match between the United States and Finland on December 26, 2010 at HSBC Arena in Buffalo, New York. (Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
Allain, who played ice hockey at Yale from 1976-80, took over as head coach in 2006, leading the program to the 2013 NCAA championship and seven Ivy League championships during his tenure. He finished his tenure with a record of 282–254–54.
Chun, a former volleyball player and later Colgate University head coach, took over as Yale Athletic Director in 2018 after serving in the same position at Colgate from 2012-18.
