February 19, 2024, 2:52 p.m. ET
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A former Nebraska basketball player is accusing coach Amy Williams and athletic director Trev Alberts of failing to take appropriate action when her sexual relationship with an assistant coach became widely known.
Ashley Scoggin filed a civil lawsuit in U.S. District Court detailing how Chuck Love allegedly took a special interest in her and how the relationship became sexual, leaving Scoggin fearful of retaliation if she refused to engage in it.
The lawsuit was filed Sunday and names the university's Board of Regents and Love as defendants in addition to Williams and Alberts. Scoggin is seeking a jury trial in Lincoln and unspecified damages for the alleged violation of her civil rights.
Williams and a spokesman for the regents declined to comment. Alberts and Love did not immediately respond to text messages and emails from The Associated Press seeking comment.
“It is a very disturbing and serious issue about reckless coaches having sexual relationships with student-athletes,” said Scoggin attorney Maren Chaloupka. “There is a huge power imbalance between the professional coach and the student-athletes. That was known in 2022.”
“Certainly Division I universities operating at the highest levels are aware of the harm that comes from such a predatory situation and there is a strong responsibility on the university and the coaches to prevent it, and God forbid it “That happens.” is the right thing to address.”
Scoggin played two seasons for the Cornhuskers. She was fired from the team on the same day Love was suspended with pay in February 2022. Love resigned three months later. Scoggin now plays at UNLV.
Williams and Alberts are accused of failing to establish rules, training or policies that prohibit employees from engaging in sexual relationships with athletes. The lawsuit alleges that the lack of protections was “so reckless that misconduct related to sexual misconduct by coaches was inevitable beginning in September 2021.”
According to the lawsuit:
Scoggin completed an internship in the athletic department in the summer of 2021 and expressed interest in becoming a coach one day. Love invited Scoggin to work at a small table in his office, and she accepted.
Love asked Scoggin personal questions, including what type of alcohol she preferred, and Love began asking her to go out for drinks with him. Scoggin declined several invitations but eventually accepted one. A few days later, they met late at night in a Costco parking lot, where Love kissed her and asked, “Have you ever done anything with a trainer?”
The interaction left Scoggin feeling “confused and trapped” because “it was now undeniable that Love wanted a sexual relationship.” Once the relationship became sexual, Love expected Scoggin to be “available and willing.” whenever he wanted to have sex, including inviting her to his hotel room when the team traveled to away games.
The night before a game at Penn State in February 2022, team members and practice players devised a ruse to confirm and videotape Scoggin's presence in Love's hotel room. A male practice player falsely identified himself as “Love” to the receptionist in order to obtain a second room key. Two team members confronted Scoggin in Love's room. They reported their findings and showed Williams the video.
“Williams cast Ashley in the role of a seducer and a liar,” the lawsuit says. “She allowed the players to abuse and blame Ashley for hours. She did not alert or advise the players that what they had seen could be the result of an abuse of power by their assistant head coach.”
When she returned to Lincoln, Scoggin was not informed of her rights under Title IX, and in a meeting with Williams and other members of the administration, she was told she was off the team, the complaint says.
The media reported Scoggin's firing and Love's suspension at the same time.
“NU, Williams and Alberts were motivated to avoid scandal and embarrassment for the Cornhuskers women’s basketball program rather than protecting their student-athlete, Ashley,” the lawsuit states.
“NU, Williams and Alberts allowed the speculation and perception to grow that Ashley was 'equally at fault' or had otherwise done something wrong, when they should have sent a clear message that it is always inappropriate for a professional coach to have one.” “to engage in a sexual relationship with her.” a student athlete.”