New BrunswickUniversity of New Brunswick volleyball player Heather Benko testified that she felt harassed, constantly belittled and psychologically unsafe while playing under former head coach Richard Schick at his wrongful dismissal trial in Burton.Richard Schick fired in October 2023, seeking lost wages, benefits and damages Allyson McCormack · CBC News · Posted: Aug 13, 2025 11:09 AM EDT | Last Updated: 3 hours agoHeather Benko was one of six members from the University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds women’s volleyball team who filed formal complaints against Richard Schick. (Allyson McCormack/CBC)University of New Brunswick volleyball player Heather Benko testified Tuesday that she felt harassed, constantly belittled and psychologically unsafe while playing under former head coach Richard Schick.Schick was fired as UNB’s head coach in October 2023. In December, he filed a notice of action in the Court of King’s Bench in Fredericton, claiming breach of contract and wrongful dismissal.Benko was one of six members from the UNB REDS women’s volleyball team who filed formal complaints against Schick in May 2023, under the university’s discrimination, sexual harassment and harassment policy. It prompted a third-party investigation that led to his termination. At the single-day trial in Burton this week, Benko described a grueling pre-game practice in Halifax, after they played poorly the night before, where she said Schick “used this drill to take his anger out on us.” Richard Schick served as coach of the UNB women’s volleyball team from May 2021 until he was fired in October 2023. (UBC)She said he ran them so hard that some players were crying and couldn’t get off the floor.”We were injured at the end of that drill and our athletic therapist had to come and say, ‘No, this is enough,'” she said while wiping away tears. Benko described another instance where Schick said to her, “What the f–k are you doing? Get that look off your face.” She called the comment humiliating, and said it threw her into one of a handful of anxiety attacks that year, along with nightmares and night sweats. She said there was a saying among teammates to “just block it out,” referring to things their coach would say to them. Benko said she spent more time developing ways to cope than on her university courses. Players had ‘axe to grind,’ coach saysSchick has since moved back to British Columbia and was not in court for the trial. He maintains that he had no warning his job was in jeopardy, and no prior disciplinary action, and therefore his termination wasn’t warranted.His lawyer, Jessica Bungay, said Schick had a successful 20-year career coaching volleyball in British Columbia before taking the job at UNB. She said he successfully completed his six-month probation period, and that the anonymous year-end feedback for his first two seasons didn’t raise any concerns with the university’s athletics director.Richard Schick’s lawyer Jessica Bungay, left, argued most of the complaints against her client were unfounded. (Allyson McCormack/CBC)The third-party investigation also ruled most of the complaints against him were unfounded, she said, including the pre-game practice in Halifax, noting that no players sat out for the following game due to injury. Bungay suggested the complaints were instead made in retaliation, after Schick informed some players that their spots on the team were not guaranteed for the following year. Of the six players who filed complaints, three had recently been told they were not guaranteed spots on the team.Bungay said when it comes to treatment of players, it needs to be taken into consideration that you’re “coaching a competitive sport at a high level of play.” When asked by Justice Thomas Christie whether it’s ever acceptable to use vulgarities, Bungay replied “there’s a scale … you’re dealing with adults.”A one-day wrongful dismissal trial happened Tuesday at the Burton courthouse. (Allyson McCormack/CBC)Bungay argued Schick’s coaching style was justified, and that Benko improved under his leadership, winning the Atlantic University Sport Rookie of the Year award during the 2022-2023 season. Bungay also pointed out that Benko and her boyfriend went to Schick’s home the day before the complaints were filed, to buy sneakers, suggesting that wasn’t the behaviour of someone who feared their coach. Schick is seeking just over $50,000 for what he lost in salary for the remainder of his contract, as well as CPP benefits and pension contributions. He’s also asking for $7,500 in moving costs, and moral damages of $20,000, to serve as a warning to other employers. Bungay said it has been a lengthy and expensive process, and “he’s trying to clear his name and move on with his life.”UNB stands by termination with causeDefence lawyer John Morse said the evidence shows players were “regularly subjected to profanity riddled outbursts.””You had athletes fearful, walking on eggshells around this man,” he said. “It’s more than any one comment. It’s the atmosphere he created, it’s what he did to these young athletes.”From left, the lawyers representing UNB, Clarence Bennett and John Morse, argued there was cause for Schick’s termination. (Allyson McCormack/CBC)The university had no choice but to let him go, Morse said, and that any damage to his reputation is his own fault because the university never disclosed the reason for his termination.The court also heard from Kim Colpitts, the former assistant coach of the UNB women’s volleyball team, who was in her seventh season when Schick joined the team as head coach. Her sworn affidavit described Schick as aggressive, noting that the players were afraid of him. Colpitts said she told him female athletes are not motivated by fear, but the behaviour continued.Morse pointed out that Colpitts was part of the coaching staff and not a player who was upset about the upcoming roster, which Schick couldn’t explain away.Justice Christie reserved his decision. ABOUT THE AUTHORAllyson McCormack is a producer with CBC New Brunswick, based in Fredericton. She has been with CBC News since 2008.
UNB volleyball player describes alleged pattern of humiliation by coach in wrongful dismissal suit
