Todd Kress, the head coach of San Jose State University’s women’s volleyball team, was accused of attacking a former player in a hotel room in 1998.
The allegation was made in a letter sent to SJSU during the team’s scandal-ridden 2024 season, according to emails obtained by Fox News Digital.
The former player, who played for Kress at Fairfield University, alleged that he smeared caramel on her face and hair, forcibly threw her on a bed, and held her down in a hotel room.
SJSU officials acknowledged the receipt of the allegations, thanked the former player for coming forward, and apologized for her experiences, but Kress was never suspended and continued to coach the team.
Fox News Digital submitted a public records request seeking copies of documents related to the allegations, but the university declined, citing “substantial privacy interests”.
The former player came forward after Kress’ handling of a trans athlete on the SJSU volleyball team sparked a national media controversy, with a female teammate joining a lawsuit claiming she hadn’t been told of the trans player’s birth sex before joining the team.
SJSU Athletic Director Jeff Konya responded to the former player’s email, saying he would share the allegations with the proper authorities, and former SJSU interim Title IX and Gender Equity Officer Peter Lim reached out to set up a meeting with the former player and her attorney.
Lim apologized for the former player’s experiences and said he would evaluate the information provided and determine appropriate next steps, but there was no further correspondence after the meeting.
Kress continued to coach the team, leading them to the final game of the Mountain West Tournament in 2024, and coached again in 2025, despite the allegations against him.
The US Department of Education’s Title IX investigation into SJSU over the transgender scandal is ongoing, and the university’s decision not to suspend or relieve Kress during the 2024 season is under scrutiny.
