How could you, Miami of Ohio?

After everything that has transpired in women’s sports the last few years, how could you think this was the way to proceed?

After what the Washington Spirit did. After what the Portland Thorns did. After what Texas Southern, a college program just like you, did. How could you think your actions were just and correct? How could you not have learned from those earlier mistakes?

For those new to the latest example of a sports organization electing to protect itself rather than victims and potential future victims, here’s the backstory:

Miami of Ohio women’s basketball coach DeUnna Hendrix resigned Wednesday. The university issued a statement on the athletic department website. In the statement, she thanked the administration and said she looked forward “to the next phase of my career.”

Here’s what the administration did not disclose: The university had credible evidence that Hendrix had engaged in a romantic relationship with a player. In a string of 180 text messages sent in an 11-day span, Hendrix wrote “I love you” and “You’re my baby” and told the player: “I. Can’t. Wait. To. Squeeze. You.” In all, more than 30 of the messages were of an intimate nature.

The university had enough evidence that it put Hendrix on leave. The…

Former Miami of Ohio women’s basketball coach DeUnna Hendrix, who resigned on Wednesday, departed seven days after the university became aware of intimate text communications between her and a player.

Those communications, provided to The Athletic by a university source, include a string of over 180 text messages spanning an 11-day period. In them, Hendrix wrote “I love you” and “You’re my baby” and told the player: “I. Can’t. Wait. To. Squeeze. You.” In all, more than 30 of the messages were of an intimate nature.

Athletic director David Sayler became aware of the text messages on the evening of April 19, according to a statement the university provided to The Athletic. Hendrix, 38, was suspended the following day and the university’s Title IX coordinator began an investigation. The team was informed of that review later on April 20 in a meeting with Sayler, associate vice president of human resources Dawn Fahner and associate athletic director Lisa Miller. Sayler told players the review was needed due to some “personal matters.”

The university said in its statement that the review determined “that the matter did not constitute a violation of Title IX or the University’s Sexual Misconduct protocol.” However, the review determined that there was…