Investigation into Volleyball Coach at San Jose State University

A recent investigation by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) has revealed that San Jose State University (SJSU) allegedly chose not to suspend or fire its head volleyball coach amid a 2024 transgender controversy, despite Title IX complaints being filed against him.

Documents revealed to FOX News Digital indicate that SJSU considered potential media backlash as a factor in their decision, weighing how any action against the coach might impact the team overall.

While the investigation does not explicitly name the coach, there’s reasonable speculation that the individual referred to as “Coach 2” is Todd Kress, the current head coach for the SJSU volleyball team.

According to internal memos, the rationale for not suspending Kress included concerns that “if we fire him… it could attract more media attention.” SJSU officials, including the university’s president, reportedly felt that suspending Kress would disrupt the team too much.

The findings also suggest that there was potential preferential treatment given to Kress over a female assistant coach, identified as “Coach 3.” This coach is believed to be Melissa Batie-Smoose, who is currently pursuing a wrongful termination lawsuit against the university.

Batie-Smoose spoke about the findings, implying that SJSU’s decisions were driven by a desire to protect male players. She suggested that the university was primarily concerned with avoiding a public relations nightmare.

After being suspended during the 2024 season, Batie-Smoose was not offered a new contract the following winter. The reasoning behind her suspension relates to an alleged violation of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which she denies, stating that the allegations stemmed from her comments on a trans athlete’s birth sex.

Interestingly, both coaches faced Title IX complaints in 2024, yet only Batie-Smoose was penalized. During an interview, Kress allegedly made comments that could be considered a FERPA violation, as noted in the findings.

According to the findings, university records indicated discrepancies in how each case was handled. Batie-Smoose was reportedly suspended for similar alleged behavior that did not seem to warrant any action against Kress, raising questions about gender equity within the disciplinary process.

Additionally, the Title IX coordinator at SJSU observed that Kress appeared to be largely ignored by players, while Batie-Smoose’s release made teammates question their safety. Batie-Smoose expressed that her departure disrupted a sense of security within the team.

San Jose State University and the California State University System have since filed a lawsuit against the ED, contesting these findings. They provided a link to court documents and mentioned a temporary injunction that prevents immediate funding cuts.

As it stands, the ED’s findings will not currently influence SJSU’s eligibility for federal funding while legal proceedings unfold, which could take up to a couple of months. Any decisions from the ED regarding sanctions will require a joint status report every two months until a resolution is reached.