( CNN ) -- A College of the Holy Cross basketball player accused her coach of being `` verbally , emotionally and physically abusive '' in a lawsuit filed this week in a New York court . And on Wednesday , that coach , Bill Gibbons , announced to the team that he would `` step back '' from his duties while the college reviews the allegations . Ashley Cooper , 20 , was a student athlete at Holy Cross in Worcester , Massachusetts , on a full athletic scholarship from 2011 to May . During that time , she claims Gibbons shook and struck her , according to the complaint . Gibbons ' behavior included `` violently yanking '' Cooper 's shirt collar , squeezing her neck and hitting her on the back hard enough to leave a red hand-print on her skin during one basketball game in January 2012 , the complaint says . During one basketball game , Gibbons ' behavior prompted players on the opposing team to comment , `` Your coach is crazy , '' according to the complaint filed Tuesday . In 2011 , a psychological professional who was brought in to discuss team chemistry revealed that the only issues the team had were related to Gibbons ' abuse , according to the complaint . After several incidents , Cooper and her teammates complained to the athletic director 's office , but their coaches retaliated for `` going over their heads , '' according to the lawsuit . The complaint also alleges that school officials were aware of the abuse but did nothing to address or stop it . `` Ashley was told , 'stop complaining ' , '' Elizabeth Eilender , Cooper 's attorney , told CNN Tuesday . `` Eventually we realized nothing would happen and took the next step . '' Holy Cross will review the allegations in the lawsuit , a spokeswoman said . `` The physical , mental and emotional well-being of our students is our highest priority at Holy Cross , '' Ellen Ryder , director of public affairs at Holy Cross , said in a statement . `` We just received the lawsuit and are in the process of reviewing it . Ms. Cooper had brought her concern to the College , and we investigated at that time . The lawsuit we received includes a series of new allegations and we will now bring in outside counsel to review them . '' Holy Cross said Wednesday that Gibbons had announced to the team that he would `` step back from his coaching duties while the college reviews the claims '' in the lawsuit . During that review , Gibbons will be on administrative leave with pay , the college said . Gibbons is currently in his 29th season as coach of the basketball team , and according to the school 's website , he is the most victorious coach in Holy Cross ' history . CNN 's calls to Gibbons for comment were not immediately returned . Cooper is filing this lawsuit not only for herself , but for all women athletes who are abused by their coaches , the lawsuit says . `` This has been going on forever . It just takes somebody strong enough like Ashley to stand up to this coach and this institution , '' Eilender said . `` The real question is , why is this institution continuing to protect him ? '' Eilender also noted that the majority of the women 's basketball team at Holy Cross holds athletic scholarships , making them `` beholden to the school . '' `` Everyone is on scholarships , '' Eilender said . `` They 're not going to say anything . '' According to Eilender , former players have now reached out to Cooper thanking her for taking a stand against something that has been going on for years without consequence . In the lawsuit , Cooper alleges that the behavior of Gibbons ' exceeds that of former Rutgers men 's basketball coach Mike Rice . Rice was seen on a tape that surfaced in April throwing basketballs at his players , shoving them , cursing and using a homophobic slur . He was fired shortly after the tape aired on ESPN . Rice later apologized for his actions . Cooper has since transferred this fall to New York University and is not playing basketball , according to Eilender . `` To transfer in the middle of her college experience is extremely traumatic to her , but she felt she had no other choice in light of Coach Gibbons ' abuse of her , '' Eilender said . Rutgers coach fired after abusive video broadcast .
A former basketball player says she was physically abused by her coach . Gibbons , one , says A College of the Holy Cross coach Ashley Cooper hit her , yanked her collar . Holy Cross will review the allegations ; Bill Gibbons is on administrative leave .