In Surprise Move, Athletic Department Denies Squash Coach Bajwa Contract Renewal

UPDATED: 5:20 p.m.

Despite coming off a successful season, in which he won three national titles with the men’s and women’s teams, Harvard squash coach Satinder Bajwa will not see his contract renewed for next year, according to multiple sources.

The rationale behind this decision was still unclear as of this afternoon, with explanations ranging from claims that he has lacked the ability to develop community to allegations that wealthy alumni have opposed his tenure due to his race, according to Albert F. Gordon '59, who is a former Harvard track captain and a significant donor to the Murr Center, the squash team's home.

The men's squash team, which won eight straight national titles in the 1990s, has seen its performance decline recently, finishing fifth nationally in the last two seasons—its worst showing in at least 20 years.

Gordon said he raised the issue of prejudice to Dean of Harvard College Evelynn M. Hammonds and the Vice President for Human Resources Marilyn Hausammann, who responded in an e-mail to Gordon that no instances of discrimination were found.

An individual familiar with Harvard squash who asked for anonymity said that "internal politics" played a larger role in the lack of renewal and expressed uncertainty regarding the alleged racial motive.

"I think that it was mainly internal politics that caused this. Whether or not race is something that affected those internal politics is hard to say," the individual said. "I'd say it's people butting heads based on cultural or other sort of clashes."

Bajwa said he was limited in what he could discuss in advance of an official announcement at the teams' end-of-season banquet tonight.

“I have to say that at the moment I am not at all in any position ready to comment on anything yet," he said. "I would rather just go to the banquet and enjoy it with both teams, because that's what's most important right now.”

“I want my teams to enjoy what they have achieved and for them to have a great banquet, and then I will focus my attention to what is happening,” Bajwa added.

Bajwa’s work over the past couple of years came to fruition in the 2009-10 season, when the women’s team won the Howe Cup as national champions as well as the Barhite Award, given to the team with the best dual record. Bajwa also coached freshman Laura Gemmell and co-captain Colin West to their respective individual national titles.

In his 11-year tenure at Harvard, Bajwa has coached four individual champions, has won two team titles, and has amassed a combined 175-61 record between the men’s and women’s squads.

—Staff writer Alex Sopko contributed to the reporting of this story.