Former Utah State player files explosive lawsuit against school, coach Blake Anderson

A former Utah State soccer participant whose leaked recordings shined a lightweight on the varsity’s dealing with of sexual assault and misconduct allegations has filed a lawsuit towards each the varsity and present head coach Blake Anderson.

The previous participant, Patrick Maddox, has alleged that his recordings – the video was stripped from the recordsdata however the audio proved damning sufficient to immediate apologies from each Anderson and the previous Utah State College Police Chief Earl Morris, who later resigned – resulted in Maddox being harassed, having his locker damaged into and in the end his choice to go away this system final spring out of what Maddox mentioned was concern for his security.

A Portland, Oregon, native who earned 2020 Educational All-Mountain West Convention honors and who performed the primary six video games of the Anderson period at Utah State a 12 months in the past earlier than damage ended his season, Maddux emerged on the middle of the varsity’s dealing with of sexual assault allegations introduced towards a former participant by Kaytriauna Flint, a buddy of Maddux who three years in the past alleged that she was raped by an Aggies participant and who in the end reached a half-million-dollar settlement with USU after Flint agreed to drop her allegations that the varsity had mishandled her rape report.

The Salt Lake Tribune has reported extensively on the matter and was first to report on Maddox’s go well with filed Thursday in United States District Court docket.

Whereas indicating that USU, which beforehand was rebuked for its dealing with of Title IX issues, is restricted in what it may say as a result of ongoing nature of Maddox’s go well with, a faculty spokesperson offered the next assertion:

“To be clear, USU doesn’t tolerate sexual misconduct or retaliation for reporting it. We encourage any pupil who has skilled or has data of both to report it to the Workplace of Fairness so the habits may be addressed appropriately, and the reporting celebration can obtain supportive measures.”

Second-year Aggies coach Anderson additionally issued a press release, which learn, partly, the next:

“(Thursday) afternoon I realized {that a} lawsuit had been filed towards me and the College,” Anderson posted in a press release to his verified Twitter account, @CHbanderson. “Whereas I can’t touch upon the precise allegations, I’ll vigorously defend myself and our college towards false statements.

“I sit up for offering details, context and clarification of the allegations towards myself and the College.”

On account of Maddox’s recordings, Anderson – employed by USU previous to the 2021 season away from Arkansas State and who generated an 11-win season in his first 12 months atop this system in Logan, Utah – apologized after Maddox’s audio revealed that Anderson had advised his gamers “It has by no means been extra glamorized to be a sufferer” of sexual assault.

Per Maddox, Anderson additionally advised the previous participant that Maddox’s choice to leak the recordings had broken Anderson’s standing within the Christian church.

The Aggies should not have a recreation this weekend however return to the sector Nov. 5 at dwelling towards Mountain West Convention foe New Mexico.