- Nov 25, 2016
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Arizona athletic director Greg Byrne was a top candidate for the AD job at Florida. It was reported that he turned down the Florida job because he was waiting on Alabama.
As it turns out, we may be very fortunate that he went elsewhere.
https://www.espn.com/espn/feature/s...s-blackmail-violence-death-school-stopped-him
Byrne is being sued by a former Arizona track and field athlete. The athlete is alleging that she was raped, blackmailed, assaulted and threatened by an assistant coach over a period of years. The coach was arrested and charged with 8 felonies some of which he has already acknowledged committing. Apparently, the coach in question was using his university cell phone and email account to communicate with and threaten the student.
A concerned employee became aware that something inappropriate was happening and notified Byrne. Byrne scheduled a meeting with the coach and asked him if he was doing something he shouldn't be doing. The coach said no and Byrne dropped it without investigating any further. Byrne never checked the email account or the cell phone records. Byrne never spoke with the athlete in question and never communicated with her in any way. The school's Title IX office sent her 2 emails and the school left the matter there.
A short time later the coach threw the athlete on the couch in his office and held a box cutter to her throat threatening to kill her. The coach has admitted doing this.
The story is long and there are two sides, but Byrne clearly did not take the "investigation" seriously.
As it turns out, we may be very fortunate that he went elsewhere.
https://www.espn.com/espn/feature/s...s-blackmail-violence-death-school-stopped-him
Byrne is being sued by a former Arizona track and field athlete. The athlete is alleging that she was raped, blackmailed, assaulted and threatened by an assistant coach over a period of years. The coach was arrested and charged with 8 felonies some of which he has already acknowledged committing. Apparently, the coach in question was using his university cell phone and email account to communicate with and threaten the student.
A concerned employee became aware that something inappropriate was happening and notified Byrne. Byrne scheduled a meeting with the coach and asked him if he was doing something he shouldn't be doing. The coach said no and Byrne dropped it without investigating any further. Byrne never checked the email account or the cell phone records. Byrne never spoke with the athlete in question and never communicated with her in any way. The school's Title IX office sent her 2 emails and the school left the matter there.
A short time later the coach threw the athlete on the couch in his office and held a box cutter to her throat threatening to kill her. The coach has admitted doing this.
The story is long and there are two sides, but Byrne clearly did not take the "investigation" seriously.