Louisiana Ragin' Cajun softball coach Michael Lotief was placed on administrative leave 12 days ago, according to the University and first reported by Kevin Foote of The Advertiser and ESPN1420.

The University, through their office of communications and marketing, released the following statement regarding coach Lotief's leave.

"Since Friday, October 6th, 2017, Michael Lotief has been on a leave of absence from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. In Lotief's absence as head coach of the softball team, Assistant Coach Chris Malveaux is coordinating the program."

Attorney John E. McElligott, Jr., who represents Lotief, gave a statement to The Advertiser today. (read full statement here)

The statement claims Lotief's administrative leave stems from a "passionate conversation about gender equality".

Lotief has been with Louisiana for 14 seasons as either the head coach or co-head coach (his wife Stefni was co-head coach from 2002-2012), and sports a career record with the Cajuns of 729-174.

In 2013, Lotief briefly resigned from the program, citing family reasons. He returned several weeks into the season.

 

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