HigherEdMorning.comCollege is sued after coach rapes student

College is sued after coach rapes student

July 13, 2009 by Taylor Hannigan
Posted in: From the Courts, In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views

A basketball coach raped a player in a motel room after an away game. Was the college at fault?

The assailant coached the victim while she was in high school and then again when she arrived at Lawson State Community College. Before the rape, the school’s president and athletic director questioned the nature of the relationship between the player and coach — but did not take special steps to separate the two.

The victim sued the school, saying the school’s athletic director failed to properly investigate a previous incident involving alleged improper contact between the coach and another player. She also said the athletic director should have done more to investigate her “inappropriate relationship” with the coach.

The court rejected her claims. The athletic director said she promptly investigated and resolved the earlier incident. And the school didn’t violate any duty it had to further investigate the nature of the relationship between the player and coach.

Cite: J.B. v. Lawson State Community College.

How far should schools go to monitor relationships between players and coaches? Tell us what you think in the comments section below.

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  • Tim P.

    In my opinion, the relationship between coach and player should be platonic at most. The school needs to point this out to each and every coach, and request thier abidance. Is the school responsible for a secret relationship that may exist? No. The above story needs more details also to make a better formed opinion.

  • Fred

    The headline indicates that the coach committed a crime. The article indicates that the court rejected her claim. It seems that the coach may not have committed a crime.
    One needs to be careful when using such charged words as rape.

    Editor’s Response: The coach was criminally convicted and sentenced to life in prison plus 20 years for the rape. The student’s claims against the college were civil claims that were addressed in a separate proceeding.

  • Just Mike

    Athletic departments are as hormonally charged as the drama department, both the faculty and students. They should be monitored carefully and overseen by a level-headed university representative.

  • http://TheUniversityofTexasatElPaso Hilario R. Monreal

    Once again an individual fails to accept responsibility for their actions. In this generation of X and Y, these individuals do not and will not accept resonsibility for their behavior. They have been schooled and taught to blame the other guy! This is a case of academic inappropriate behavior, “unacceptable” cut and dry. No one and no parent wants for their child to be a victim of a senseless and rude behavior of a COACH! at school where education is being offered!!!………yes, the victim was a part of it, BUT the coach is exactly that “a coach, mentor, advisor” who took advantage of this person. Yes, the university should be may accountable for this incident. Incidents of this nature are handled in a discreit manner.

  • Dan

    Without knowing more details it is really hard to make an educated decision. But based on what I see written here the school should not be responsible.

    The article cites the girl referring to the relationship as being “inappropriate”, by doing so she just admitted that she was at fault.

    She got hrself into the relationship, why is it the college’s responsiblity to bail her out?

  • itsalljustaride

    “The article cites the girl referring to the relationship as being “inappropriate”, by doing so she just admitted that she was at fault.”

    Precisely. She can’t claim that the school should have saved her from her own poor decision making skills.


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