Letter to the editor: From an angry, embarrassed alum
DePaul Athletic Director Jean Lenti Ponsetto in 2014. (Josh Leff / The DePaulia)
This submission does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the DePaulia staff.
As an alum, I am angry and embarrassed.
As I would normally stand proud wearing a DePaul hat, shirt, or hoodie, now I would not, as it represents something other than Vincentian views, something other than an education I’m proud of. To me, it represents corruption, unethical behavior, and losing.
What makes me angry is not that any of this happened, it’s because many, including me, have been saying for years that stuff is happening and it falls on deaf ears. I’m angry that when something like this happens, we hear nothing from the leadership of DePaul. I grew up a DePaul fan. I got two degrees from the university and loved every second I was there. DePaul was respected. DePaul had a strong, proud name. So what changed DePaul? When did you lose your way?
Part of the answer is Jean Lenti-Ponsetto. Have you noticed that most of the negative news and controversies stemming from DePaul University involve Jean Lenti-Ponsetto somehow? Think about it: (1) the rape allegations back in 2014, which were dismissed and never spoken of again, involved the athletic department, (2) the Wintrust deal, both for naming rights and banking opportunities, involved herself and her sister-in-law, who profited from this deal, (3) the firing of Rick Carter, which resulted in an order-of-protection, which you never see, (4) the FBI investigations in college basketball, with two coaches from DePaul mentioned, (5) her remarks that were mentioned so many times on the radio that “we aren’t the junior NBA” and “fans don’t always care about winning,” and now (6) her own brother, who was her employee, being accused of abuse, both physical and mental, to his athletes and coaches, all of whom were women. These are stories only from the past 5 or 6 years. How on Earth does she still have a job today? How on Earth has she not been suspended from her current position today while an external investigation happens regarding her brother Eugene? How on Earth does President Esteban not even acknowledge this?
Let us assume all the allegations and controversies have no merit. Since 2003, has she done her job? Has she taken what former Athletics Director Bill Bradshaw gave her and made it better? I would argue no. The two most successful programs during the Lenti-Ponsetto regime are women’s basketball and softball, both of which have been on autopilot for decades — she didn’t have to do a thing. All others have been questionable, especially DePaul’s flagship program, and only true money-generating program, men’s basketball. Here are some eye-opening facts: (1) DePaul has been playing basketball for almost 100 years, since 1923. Their total record is 1,493-1,048. (2) In just 18 years, during the Lenti-Ponsetto era, DePaul has lost 332 games. Over 31% of our losses have happened in just the last 18 years! (3) 10 of those 18 years have resulted in last place finishes in the conference.
I also saw DePaul Athletics from a different angle, as a coach. I was an AAU coach for years, having several players who received scholarships from DePaul. What I saw is a program behind the times and in disarray. DePaul would send letters to my players that weren’t in DePaul envelopes and did not even have DePaul mentioned in the note. DePaul drove an hour in the early AM to the far southwest suburbs to see my player, only to get there before the school opened, so the coach told a janitor to tell my player “DePaul was here.” I had DePaul send my 7’2” center a letter going over changes to NCAA rules regarding college hockey. These are just a few examples of how much disarray there was from my perspective. All this was brought to Jean Lenti-Ponsetto’s attention, both via email on March 17, 2013, and in a personal meeting on March 28, 2013, along with Oliver Purnell. I asked that the meeting be kept confidential, as I had to work with the staff moving forward, and both agreed, but found out years later while Coach Purnell kept his promise, Lenti-Ponsetto did not, sharing information with an assistant. Also, nothing changed. Talking with other college coaches throughout the country, they all see DePaul as a potential good job, however none would work for Lenti-Ponsetto.
This latest controversy could have been prevented, if the university kept their eyes and ears open, had some common sense, and practiced Catholic and Vincentian values. But none of that happened, and here we are, digging ourselves in a bigger hole, possibly too deep to get out of anytime soon. And here is DePaul, keeping quiet, and allowing Jean to talk about her contract, and when she feels the time is right, she will talk to President Esteban and make a decision to retire. Who is the true leader here?
I’ll leave you with this thought: If a student is constantly failing classes, DePaul kicks him out of school, even if they are still willing to pay. If a professor fails to effectively teach a class, the teacher will be asked to leave, or removed. So why, DePaul, do you, continue to employ someone surrounded by failure and controversy, and allow her to run this proud university into the ground?
I would like an answer, but I know DePaul’s M.O. is no comment.
Michael Ciepierski
B.S. Actuarial Science 2000
MBA. Finance/Economics 2002
Vincent Tinerella M.A. 1994 • Jun 10, 2021 at 1:14 am
The athletic department is the least of it. The whole school is embarrassing. No wonder enrollment is plummeting.
Jesse M Gimenez • May 6, 2020 at 3:51 pm
President Esteban has no leadership abilities in this area clearly as JLP is calling the shots. What a joke..
Brendan • Apr 30, 2020 at 4:00 pm
Speaking of donations and the construction of buildings . . . here’s an investigative story idea … “How much of ex-President Holtschneider’s building spree was financed with debt vs. donations?” Typically when massive campus development campaigns take place, the major buildings get named for major donors who supported their constructions rather than outgoing presidents and politicians (e.g., Holtschneider Performance Center, & Richard M. & Maggie C. Daley Center). How much debt for the Theatre School, the Music School constructions and other property acquisitions are students on the hook for in the way of tuition dollars? Especially, since the pandemic is causing a 20% hit to the number of incoming freshmen students for fall 2020! Tuition may be “frozen” but you’d better believe s#!+ is gonna go up 2021.
Brendan • Apr 30, 2020 at 3:52 pm
I’m surprised journalists have never explored the whether there are any family or business connections between the Lenti and Cacciatore families. Both have longstanding ties to DePaul athletics (as well as at Mount Carmel High School which also has a major building/athletics facility named for the Cacciatore family’s donations, where Jeanne’s big brother Frank was head football coach and AD for decades and where her baby brother David was also a coach and VP for Institutional Advancement).
The Joseph Cacciatore Co. was one of the property owners involved in sales/negotiations for the development of the Wintrust Arena and the adjacent hotel that got the TIF subsidies.
Katheryn Winnow • Apr 28, 2020 at 11:20 am
Have you met or listened to President Esteban? He has no business being a university president. None.
Shame on the Board of Trustees for not removing Esteban already and everyone he hired. The damage he has inflicted is tragic. This athletics controversy is simply a symptom of the disease that has taken hold and spread since he arrived.
J Michelle • Apr 28, 2020 at 2:24 am
I hope that these men and women of the board ask themselves .. would I let my daughter play for this program amid these years of accusations? Because the best athletes in the country’s parents are saying the same thing while DePaul coaches sit in their living room trying to convince their kid to come to the school. I feel sorry for those coaches who have been subjected to what sounds like decades of poor leadership. President Esteban, Steve Stoute, board of trustees, take action now! Your alumni are begging you to allow us to be proud of our university again.
G Quinn • Apr 27, 2020 at 10:06 pm
Do you know why there was no statement released by Gabriel Esteban, the Trustees or any other “leadership”. Because they knew already and did nothing. Think these allegations of Eugene Lenti punching a woman in the face, hitting female players “about their bodies” and calling the young women on his team “F**king whores” was a one off and out of the blue? Of course not. The Lenti-Ponsetto’s are thugs and have been stepping on people and laughing all the way to the bank since the 70’s. The 70’s!! Image entrusted your daughter to the Lenti’s and finding out they either called your young daughter a “F***ing whore” and that the ex-Softball player AD and coaches brother looked the other way?? And that PRIESTS knew and kept rehiring these people?! Not that priest have any experience with abuse cover ups…
Based on everything he’s demonstrated thus far, President Esteban should be removed. This fell on his desk and he had some underling issue perhaps the weakest response to a assault against women response I’ve ever seen. And he was either the most oblivious college president on the planet or let Jean Lenti Ponsetto strong arm him into extending Dave Leitao’s contact–to the shock and disgust of the college basketball community.
Doug S • Apr 27, 2020 at 10:57 am
The Letter to the Editor is spot on, though I take exception to the reference that the situation could have been prevented had the administration practiced Catholic and Vincentian values. Catholic and Vincentian values have no monopoly on decency and morality. Had the administration just done their job and acted with the decency expected at any institution of higher learning, regardless of religious or state affiliation, none of this would have occurred.
As for Coach Lenti, let’s just say that none of this comes as a shock to those who have interacted with him over the decades. The only shock is the ineptness of the athletic department’s cover-up, though I guess that shouldn’t come as a shock given the mastermind behind it.
Michael Patrick • Apr 27, 2020 at 10:38 am
Although your letter presents several great arguments for an independent investigation of the athletic department and removal of Jean Lenti-Ponsetto – at least until the accusations are resolved, this will NEVER occur without a “smoking gun.” Seemingly, this case will be settled out of court and all parties will be silenced by DePaul’s very powerful attorneys and the University’s incredibly, deep pockets. One can argue, DePaul’s leadership doesn’t care about the welfare of its student-athletes who bring forth accusations of abuse. If what we read in the DePaulia is true, it’s softball coach suddenly “retired” after 37 years, ran out the back door, and the assistant coaches were fired – including the woman who was allegedly struck in the face by Eugene Lenti. That’s a huge red flag!
As we have learned from the “ #Me TooMovement,” gag orders aren’t worth the paper they’re written on. Everyone in the know needs to speak up, without fear of retaliation. What concerns me is “supposed” past players of Lenti have left cryptic messages on several DePaulia posts suggesting physical and verbal abuse was the norm and exposure of abuse was unattainable. In other words, this alleged abuse did not start when its coach turned 60 years old!
I’m not alarmed by a coach yelling at a player or slipping an “F” bomb in frustration – we all played sports. Coaches are human and get caught up in the moment. However, it’s the alleged physical abuse and cover-up that’s shocking and quite frankly, criminal . My confusion is why the Chicago Police is not involved? With this lawsuit, I’m sure they will be soon. Obviously, Eugene Lenti’s name has been forever tarnished by this lawsuit. If not true, he’s got a huge defamation lawsuit. If true, well then, let the chips fall where they may.
The most important people here are the student – athletes, past and present, and others who might have been impacted. I’m amazed that a few college kids at DePaulia, with literally no resources, can conduct such an in-depth investigation. Imagine what could happen if a couple skilled investigative reporters, with a budget, from the Chicago Tribune, Sun-Times, NBC, ABC, etc, started sniffing around? Hell, CPD has got a lot of great investigators, too!
As alumni, we need to know our alma mater is not corrupt! Until this is resolved, ALL current and prospective donors must refrain from financially supporting DePaul’s capital campaign and other financial giving initiatives!