Huntington Uni drama

Just to clarify, SafeSport does not _ban_ based on charges alone.

First, the person accused needs to be (or have been) a USATF member in order to be a covered individual. Most coaches have never been a USATF member, though in this case the coach's bio literally says that he is a USATF member.

If they are a covered individual, charges of this nature would lead to what is basically an indefinite suspension while the legal process plays out. If they are found guilty, if they plead guilty to a lesser related offense, if they plead no contest, etc, then they would be permanently banned.

If the charges are dropped or they are found not guilty, what would happen next would depend on what evidence SafeSport had. Their evidentiary standard is lower than the legal system, so it is possible that criminal charges could fail but they could still be banned by SafeSport.

For example, the only coach that USATF banned before SafeSport was ~2005. A coach had been accused by multiple victims of molesting them at practice while he stretched them. Twice the case went to trial, and twice the jury was hung. Some could not believe that a man could molest children out in the open like that. USATF banned him.

The only place parents could find evidence at this time is this message board, which is easy to dismiss.

Also, even if he were convicted, you would be surprised how many parents would still send their kids to a coach like that. Like you said, "he seems like a good guy."

SafeSport can only stop someone from coaching within the Olympic movement. Plenty of banned coaches are still coaching privately. They can coach AAU if they can pass a background check, AAU doesn't care if they are harming children. They can coach at the high school and college level if a school is dumb enough to hire them. You cannot get banned from coaching college for having sex with athletes, the closest thing is having a bad reputation that is so widely known that you become unhirable.

In some of these cases, people are allowed to plead down to misdemeanors, which can then be expunged from their record, allowing them to pass a background check. If the local papers do not cover the story, it is nearly impossible for anyone to find information.

All 3 are guilty? You’re telling me he’s being accused of doing things to a minor and you’re going to blame the minor? You’re disgusting. IF this is true it means HE harmed this minor and they are a victim NOT at fault

It didn't get deleted from bookface yet. I have a screenshot of it.

I can’t post the link since I’m new here but Indiana milesplit just posted an article saying he has been arrested on the 3 charges and a $30,000 bond has been posted.

The Huntington Prosecuting Attorney also put out a release.

MarcusITXC wrote:

I can’t post the link since I’m new here but Indiana milesplit just posted an article saying he has been arrested on the 3 charges and a $30,000 bond has been posted.

Former Huntington University cross country head coach Nicholas Johnson, who was an assistant coach on the NAIA program's national indoor championship team in 2019 before his recent firing, is facing three felony charges this weekend after an arrest warrant was issued by Huntington County's prosecuting attorney on Friday for three charges stemming from child seduction and kidnapping.

Johnson, who has led the Foresters to national success in recent years and was just the second head coach in program history, is out on bail after posting $30,000 bond on Friday, the same day of his arrest.

As of Sunday, he does not appear on the official Huntington University athletics page anymore. On Dec. 8, Huntington reposted a job opening for the cross country programs.

Johnson's first hearing for the three charges is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 14, in Huntington Circuit Court. In a press release issued by HC prosecuting attorney Amy Richardson, the county added, "the charges filed against Nicholas Johnson are an accusation and Nicholas Johnson is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty."

The 33-year-old coach, who is married, was entering his third season in 2020 as the head men's and women's cross country coach and also was an assistant coach of the track and field programs, working specifically with the distance teams. Before arriving at Huntington, he had nearly a decade's worth of experience at multiple levels.

According to his Huntington University coaches profile, Johnson owned a USATF Level 1 certification and was USOC SafeSport certified.

In 2019, he coached his athletes to eight All-American honors, seven individual Crossroads League titles in track and field and 11 conference badges.

Sixteen of his athletes competed at the national level. He also helped guide the women's program to a NAIA Indoor National Championship title in 2019.

What is identity deception???

reallynow? wrote:

I agree completely. My assumption for the lack of public statement is simply PR. Huntington is a faith based institution and having these types of charges against an employee looks terrible.

How is child seduction and kidnapping regarded at heathen universities?

I bet!! And the HS too I’m sure

He probably called her out of her high school posing as her father... that would tie in with the abduction charges...

VIP in the peanut gallery wrote:

reallynow? wrote:

I agree completely. My assumption for the lack of public statement is simply PR. Huntington is a faith based institution and having these types of charges against an employee looks terrible.

How is child seduction and kidnapping regarded at heathen universities?

Let's not confuse faith with morality.

sub sub elite local hobby jogger wrote:

VIP in the peanut gallery wrote:

How is child seduction and kidnapping regarded at heathen universities?

Let's not confuse faith with morality.

Those that are most vocally "pious" are often the most perverted in their behaviors.

Why is milesplit the only place that is covering this? It seems like it would at least be in local news, but I’ve seen nothing.

Glad there was a press release of some sort by an involved organization. Hope that clears up the rumors a bit. Of course there is still a lot to assume with those charges and murmurs. But generally, don't be an idiot and try to hook up with minors. Especially if you're 30+.

Sad. The press release sounds odd. Almost as if the prosecutor didn't have evidence but was forced to bring charges. Either way, awful to put yourself in such a position. But it seems to happen all to often with successful cross country coaches.

Coaches get into these situations because of their own stupidity. Any good coach should always adhere to the following:

Never coach one-on-one alone - always be within eye/earshot of an assistant coach and other athletes. If personal matters are being discussed, this should happen in an office situation and be fully documented with contemporaneous notes filed with the AD or club management.

Never have direct phone contact with athletes. All non-verbal communication should be conducted via e-mail/text (No private apps) that can be archived. With minors, all communication should copy parents/legal guardians or be relayed through them.

Never follow athletes or communicate via social media. Just like the workplace, you need to maintain a professional barrier.

There is NEVER an excuse to act in any manner other than professional with athletes.

Ben Dover wrote:

Sad. The press release sounds odd. Almost as if the prosecutor didn't have evidence but was forced to bring charges. Either way, awful to put yourself in such a position. But it seems to happen all to often with successful cross country coaches.

The press release simply emphasizes innocence until proven guilty, which is the basic premise of the US legal system. The only thing I find odd is how a NAIA coach came up with $30,000 bail.