UAAP suspends coach Jerry Yee for rest of season; UE to appeal

UE Lady Warriors coach Jerry Yee during the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — The UAAP has suspended University of the East Lady Warriors coach Jerry Yee for the remainder of the Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament.

The league on Sunday announced its decision to suspend Yee following a complaint raised by a member school against him on account of conduct violative of the purposes of the UAAP — a platform for Member Universities to foster camaraderie and fair play.

The UAAP said Yee “retains the ability to train the UE Lady Warriors and coach the team in non-UAAP events” and the suspension will not impact the team’s record in the UAAP Season 86 Women’s Volleyball Tournament.

Jerry Yee will not coach the UE vs Adamson later this afternoon

The UE coach says the league has suspended him for the remainder of #UAAPSeason86 women’s volleyball tournament. @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/n0N7CdExlk

— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) March 3, 2024

“After a thorough deliberation by the UAAP Board of Managing Directors (BMD), a recommendation was elevated 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.

“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.”

Yee on Sunday expressed his utmost disappointment, explaining that his decision to part ways with Adamson was “a mutual one.”

READ: Jerry Yee released by Adamson after PVL coaching appointment

“We agreed that the partnership had run its course, and I felt like the time was right for me to take a new step in my career and face a new challenge. Recall that I was already gainfully employed as head coach of the St. Benilde women’s volleyball team in the NCAA when Adamson offered me to be the head coach of the Lady Falcons in the UAAP,” said Yee. “While at the helm of the Adamson women’s volleyball, an opportunity presented itself when a newcomer team was being formed in a professional league (PVL) with the core of the St. Benilde Lady Blazers as its players.”

Yee signed with Adamson last season amid his NCAA coaching gig with the College of Saint Benilde and led the Lady Falcons back to the Final Four and a bronze medal finish.

Months after his first season with Adamson, the school announced that Yee was relieved of his coaching duties with the Lady Falcons on June 7 after he was named head coach of Farm Fresh ahead of its debut conference in the PVL.

Yee explained his departure as the Adamson coach after UE signed him a couple of weeks later.

Yee said that Dr. Obet Vital will handle the Lady Warriors while he and the school will appeal to the league. #UAAPSeason86 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/P1JUpuAFDJ

— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) March 3, 2024

“Around March 2023, Adamson and its main sponsor Akari met with me to discuss the issue where the sponsor conveyed that it wasn’t happy and that it will be hard to continue with our arrangements. In fact, I even offered to handle the Adamson team for another season without the additional compensation from the sponsor, but both the school and Akari stated that it wouldn’t be possible,” said Yee.

“I met again with Adamson and Akari around the first week of June 2023 to discuss a mutual termination of agreement, and thereafter on June 7, 2023, the school issued a “statement of release” effectively terminating my services as head coach of the Lady Falcons. While focusing on my teams in the NCAA and the PVL, UE approached and offered me a head coaching job which I accepted on June 21, 2023.

I maintain that there was no ethical breach in my decision to accept UE’s head coaching job, because it was a mutual parting of ways for both Adamson and I. It is unfortunate that this career decision of mine has been met with vitriol at the late-onset, borne out of vindictiveness ironically from an institution that prides itself in instilling Catholic virtues and teachings.”

READ: Jerry Yee named UE Lady Warriors coach

Yee was notified about his suspension on Friday afternoon. He and UE will appeal to the league on Monday.

UE assistant coach Dr. Obet Vital will call the shots for UE against Yee’s former team Adamson on Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena.

“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 to 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. Nonetheless, I will continue to perform my duties as coach to the Lady Warriors despite the unmerited decision by the board.”