SJSU Coach Todd Kress Faces 1998 Assault Claim as Accuser Says School Knew Since 2024
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jul 21
SJSU Coach Todd Kress Faces 1998 Assault Claim as Accuser Says School Knew Since 2024
1 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 21
Summary
A former Fairfield volleyball player publicly accused San Jose State coach Todd Kress of assaulting her in a hotel room after the 1998 NCAA tournament, saying she came forward to protect women on SJSU’s team.
October 2024 emails show SJSU received her complaint, met with her and her lawyer, and said it was evaluating next steps, yet she says Kress kept coaching and traveling with the team.
Brooke Slusser, a former SJSU player now suing the school, said she and teammates were never told about the allegations during the 2024 season.
SJSU denied public-records requests about any investigation, citing privacy and attorney-client privilege, and neither the university nor Kress has publicly addressed the allegations in the 14 days since they surfaced.
The claim adds to wider scrutiny of SJSU volleyball: a federal Title IX probe found the school chose not to suspend its head coach during the 2024 controversy, and SJSU and the CSU system are challenging those findings.
SJSU knew of a coach's assault allegation for two years. Why is he still coaching?
After past abuse settlements, why is SJSU suing federal investigators over new violations?
SJSU Faces Federal Funding Threat Over Title IX, Transgender Athlete Policy, and Coach Abuse Allegations (2024–2026)
Overview
San Jose State University (SJSU) is facing major legal and institutional challenges as of July 2026, following its controversial handling of a transgender athlete in 2024 and serious allegations against head volleyball coach Todd Kress. Despite being informed in October 2024 about an alleged 1998 assault by Kress, SJSU allowed him to remain as head coach, a decision now under intense scrutiny after the accuser went public in July 2026. These events have intensified calls for accountability and highlight ongoing concerns about SJSU’s response to both athlete safety and compliance with federal Title IX regulations.