Several current and former University of Massachusetts Amherst basketball staff members are currently facing a lawsuit from director of basketball operations Lou Roe’s ex-girlfriend, Ayanna Hickman, alleging that they deprived her of her civil rights in 2013.
But this is not the first time Hickman has taken Roe to court.
In March 2014, the first hearing was held on a restraining order that Hickman filed against Roe, alleging that he had abused her, court documents show. The order was granted, but expired in May of that year.
And in 2015, a judge ordered Roe to pay back child support for the son he and Hickman had together in April 2014, according to court filings. Hickman alleged that she had received no child support payments from Roe — a charge that he denied.
Hickman’s current lawsuit against Roe describes their relationship as “intimate but tempestuous,” and accuses Roe of having physically abused her in the past.
Roe’s lawyer, Mark Tanner, did not return several phone calls Monday requesting comment.
The latest lawsuit also names former UMass head basketball coach Derek Kellogg, current assistant coach Shyrone Chatman and former strength coach Richard Hogans.
In the suit, Hickman alleges that in 2013, Roe, Chatman and Hogans detained her against her will and intimidated her in a team office. Hickman accuses Kellogg of encouraging and participating in a cover-up of the alleged incident.
Hogans was unavailable for comment on Monday, and the Gazette was unable to reach Kellogg and Chatman.
Roe was placed on paid administrative leave in December, the same month that the suit was filed in U.S. District Court in Springfield.
Staff writer Matt Vautour contributed to this report.
Dusty Christensen can be reached at dchristensen@gazettenet.com.