Former Coach Alleges Retaliation Over Title IX Complaint

A former assistant women’s volleyball coach from San Jose State University is claiming she was terminated for filing a Title IX complaint concerning the team’s transgender players. This allegation comes from a recent lawsuit.

Melissa Batty-Smoose asserts that she was initially suspended late last year, and her employment ended due to what she describes as “direct retaliation” for voicing concerns about sexism in the sport.

“It’s concerning when coaches face penalties for raising issues about fairness and integrity in women’s sports. This not only impacts those individuals but also erodes the enforcement of Title IX responsibilities, making it harder for advocates protecting gender equality in college athletics,” she stated.

The situation escalated when it was disclosed that a transgender player, Blair Fleming, was listed on the team roster. In a Title IX complaint filed last October, Batty-Smoose alleged that the university favored Fleming over other athletes and didn’t transparently share the athlete’s birth gender.

Additionally, her complaint highlighted an incident where Fleming was purportedly made uncomfortable during a game by teammate Brooke Slusser. Batty-Smoose claims that shortly after lodging her complaint, she was suspended and ultimately had her contract not renewed in January.

Following these events, she indicated that her job hunt has been particularly challenging. “I’ve had a successful coaching career, but honestly, I’m not even searching for a new position right now,” she mentioned after relocating from California to Texas.

The lawsuit, which targets the board of directors for California State University—overseeing SJSU—demands compensation for damages, reinstatement, and backpay from her dismissal. It also seeks measures to ensure that biologically born female athletes aren’t compelled to compete against transgender athletes.

San Jose State has not commented regarding this situation.