PITTSBURGH — Steve Lewis, fired earlier in the week after 20 years as a track coach at Pitt, issued a statement Thursday condemning what he called “racial and gender hate” and “dollar mongers” at the school.

        Lewis, who was let go Monday, joined Pitt as an assistant coach in 1982. He was the women's coach for 18 years and the men's coach for eight, coaching three NCAA champions, 58 NCAA All-Americans and 103 Big East Conference champions.

        Lewis and women's basketball coach Traci Waites were the only black head coaches at Pitt.

        Lewis, who coached on the high level for 17 years, questioned remarks by athletic director Steve Pederson that “our track and field program needed new leadership,” and put out a long statement questioning the decision and its motives.

        “The only stipulation I put on myself when I decided to coach on the college level ... was to never be like them. Who are they? They are the people who are insensitive to the needs and particulars of young people. They are the greedy. They are the dollar mongers. They are the users of flesh. They are clearly self-serving,” he said in the statement.

        “There are those who use the position and power to manipulate. There are those who operate in racial and gender hate. They are to be pitied and prayed for. They should not have empowerment over our young,” he said in the statement without specifying who he was criticizing.

        Pederson had no comment on the statement Thursday.

        The school has not announced a replacement for Lewis.

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