Recently, Steve Lemke had to resign from his position as assistant bowling coach at Stephen F. Austin University due to a sexual relationship that he was having with one of his athletes was uncovered. Sex scandal stories like these are always shocking to hear, however, they may not be as uncommon as you might think (or hope). Here is a list of five more sex scandals between coaches and athletes that you may not have heard about:
Sex Scandal #1. University of Arizona Track and Field Coach
The first on our list of sex scandals is coach Craig Carter. Craig Carter was a throwing coach for the University of Arizona's track and field team. Between 2010 and 2014, Baillie Gibson, a throwing athlete, had an intimate relationship her coach, Craig Carter. Gibson was a standout athlete, with dreams of making it to the Olympics one day. After one party, Gibson was too intoxicated to get home, so she called the closest trusted adult to her… her coach Craig Carter. When Gibson woke up the next day, she found that her coach had taken pictures of her naked and was threatening to send them to everyone she knew unless she would have a sexual relationship with him. Throughout the rest of Gibson's college career, Gibson and Carter met up dozens of times. It wasn't until an administrator got suspicious and reported Carter, and Gibson stood up to Carter and told him that she no longer wanted a relationship. When Gibson told him this, Carter threatened to release the photos he had of her, and he threatened to to kill both her and himself. Carter eventually went to the police, when she was sure she would be safe, and a few weeks later, Carter was indicted by a grand jury on four counts, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and stalking. Carter was released on a bond, until Gibson filed a civil lawsuit against him later that year. He was convicted of two counts of aggravated assault, including one with a deadly weapon. He was sentenced to five years in prison. Gibson finished her degree later that year, despite Craig Carter taking away so much of her life.
Sex Scandal #2. University of Texas Track and Field Coach
In 2013, the University of Texas Longhorns head track and field coach, Bev Kearney, resigned after an investigation from the school for a sexual relationship she had with one of her athletes more than 10 years prior. According to CNN, the relationship lasted for around two years. The athlete involved in the relationship reported it to the school in the fall of 2012, and Kearney was forced to either resign or be fired a few months later. Kearney was a U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame coach and won six national championships with the Longhorns. Nevertheless, Kearney made a terrible mistake by getting involved with one of her athletes. This mistake ruined her career and her reputation.
Sex Scandal #3. LSU Women's Basketball Coach
In 2007, the LSU women's basketball head coach Pokey Chatman resigned after the university became aware of a relationship she had with one of her players. The athlete was not identified, but the relationship was reported by an employee for the basketball program. This investigation happened in the middle of the LSU's season, and Chatman resigned before the team entered the NCAA tournament. Chatman had an incredible reputation at LSU, holding a record of 90-14. However, even Chatman's reputation could not protect her from the mistake she made in her past.
Sex Scandal #4. Louisiana Tech Women's Basketball Coach
In 2017, the head coach of Louisiana Tech's women's basketball team, Tyler Summitt, son of the great Pat Summitt, resigned because of relationship he had with a player. Summitt was married at this time, but divorced in 2017. News spread that the player that Summitt had an inappropriate relationship with, Brooke Pumroy, was pregnant and Summitt married Pumroy the next year in 2018. Summitt and Pumroy are still married today and have three children together. Although Summitt's inappropriate relationship may have ended in a happily ever after for him, his coaching reputation was ruined.
Sex Scandal #5. Oregon State Women's Volleyball Coach
In 1991, the Oregon State head volleyball coach, Guy Enriques, resigned due to an intimate relationship he had with an athlete. It was not a school investigation that forced him out, but his own team. The whole team confronted him and forced him out of the program. After confronting him, the team also went to the athletic department with letters that Enriques had written to the player.
Sex Scandal #6. LSU Track and Field Coach
The last on our list of sex scandals is Loren Seagrave. In 1989, Loren Seagrave, the track and field head coach at Louisana State University, was fired because of inappropriate behavior with an athlete. It had been reported that he had been kissing and hugging an athlete. Seagrave denied that any sexual relations happened, but he also spent a night in the same house with that athlete. Years later, Seagrave took the case to court, and won a sum of $773,000 on the basis of racial discrimination (because Seagrave's wife was Black). This decision was later overturned and Seagrave was forced to pay legal costs. Seagrave made some poor decisions and he ended up paying for them by losing his job and the ability to find another head coaching position.
If you are a high school recruit or a current college athlete, these sex scandals are not meant to scare you. Most college coaches are not going to be like the ones above. However, you should be aware of who your coaches are before you commit to a school. Check the ratings on each of your coaches! Current and former athlete opinions are the best information you can get on a coach.
