University of the East head coach Jerry Yee has been temporarily suspended by the University Athletic Association of the Philippines for “engaging in acts inconsistent with the league’s objectives” which is to to foster camaraderie and fair play among member schools.
Yee will be barred from being at UAAP competitions but will still retain the ability to train the UE Lady Warriors and coach the team in non-UAAP events. Additionally, the suspension will not impact the team’s record in the ongoing UAAP Season 86 Women’s Volleyball Tournament.
Yee was released by Adamson University last June 7 and was hired by UE two weeks later.
The veteran head coach explained in a statement that a conflict of interest arose when Farm Fresh tapped him to coach in the Premier Volleyball League.
Lady Falcons backer Akari also competes in the pro league.
“For the record, the decision to part ways with Adamson was a mutual one. 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,” Yee’s statement read.
“Recall that I was already gainfully employed as the head coach of the St. Benilde women’s volleyball team in the NCAA when Adamson offered me the position of head coach for the Lady Falcons in the UAAP. While leading the Adamson women’s volleyball team, an opportunity arose when a newcomer team was being formed in a professional league (PVL) with the core of the St. Benilde Lady Blazers as its players,” it continued.
“Around March 2023, Adamson and its main sponsor, Akari, met with me to discuss the issue where the sponsor conveyed its dissatisfaction and expressed difficulty in continuing with our arrangements. In fact, I even offered to handle the Adamson team for another season without additional compensation from the sponsor, but both the school and Akari stated that it wouldn’t be possible,” added Yee, who still had a year under his contract before getting his release.
(c) Adamson University
A member school then filed a complaint to the UAAP regarding the hiring during the first semester of the ongoing season.
The league’s Board of Managing Directors convened and elevated the case to the Board of Trustees.
On February 29, 2024 — the first meeting of school presidents for the year, the BOT concurred with the BMD findings that Coach Yee had engaged in acts inconsistent with the league’s objectives, suspending him for the rest of the season.
“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,” the league’s statement read.
Yee though said that no breach happened during the two-week span that saw him being released by Adamson and hired by UE.
(L-R) UE High School Official Gerry Venturina, UE Junior Warriors Head Coach Karl Santos, UE Athletics Director Rod Roque, UE Lady Warriors Head Coach Jerry Yee, Tanduay Athletics’ Jerry Tiu, UE Team Manager Jared Lao, UE President Dr. Zosimo Battad, UE Senior Vice President for Finance Florence Sy, UE Board of Trustees member Wilson Young, former UE Red Warriors Head Coach Boycie Zamar
“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 me. Unfortunately, this career decision of mine has been met with vitriol at the late onset, born out of vindictiveness, ironically from an institution that prides itself on instilling Catholic virtues and teachings,” Yee’s statement continued.
“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 to provide for my family. The three-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.
“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 this unmerited decision by the board,” he concluded.
Dr. Obet Vital will serve as interim head coach of UE for the time being.
Yee and UE will also appeal the decision, he said in a press conference at Abe Restaurant in the SM Mall of Asia.
Ironically, UE will face Adamson at 2:00 p.m. at nearby MOA Arena.
