Bev Kearny resigns. Admits affair.

she left quickly rather than drag out the scandal. good move.

Out of curiosity, why would the person come out 10 years later and tell the UT admin? Was it gay/straight? Is he/she claiming rape of some sort?

1) It's "Kearney."

2) She's quoted as saying, "I didn't commit a crime, but I displayed poor judgment." I think that's about right, actually.

3) When I started coaching college women (40 years ago? wow), relationships between coaches--most, but not all, male--and their female athletes were fairly common. (That so many of the coaches were unpaid, or paid very little, may have been a factor.) I'm not sure how I avoided that--just luck, maybe--but in retrospect I'm very glad that I never developed a personal relationship with one of my undergraduate students. Ignoring all other considerations, it could do terrible things to a team dynamic.

4) I know some people think colleges have gone overboard in their change in attitude toward athlete-coach relationships. I don't. Every college athlete needs to have confidence that she (or he) won't, even potentially, be the object of personal attention from someone who has so much control over her life.

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Statement from Patti Ohlendorf, UT-Austin Vice President for Legal Affairs, regarding Women's Track and Field program


Coach Bev Kearney advised The University of Texas at Austin that she is resigning her position as head coach of the Women's Track and Field program.

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Jan. 5, 2013

Statement issued Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013, by Patti Ohlendorf, UT-Austin Vice President for Legal Affairs:

Coach Bev Kearney informed The University of Texas at Austin today that she is resigning her position as head coach of the Women’s Track and Field program effective immediately. Coach Kearney also had advised the Austin American-Statesman of her decision.

Coach Kearney told the Austin American-Statesman that she had had an intimate consensual relationship beginning in 2002 with an adult, then a student-athlete in her program, and that the University had begun to review this relationship when it was reported by the former student-athlete in late October, 2012.

Neither the Intercollegiate Athletics administration nor the University administration had heard previously about this relationship. As soon as it was reported, Athletics notified the University President and the Vice President for Legal Affairs, who immediately began the review. Shortly after the review began, Coach Kearney was placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome.

Based upon the review, the University does not believe that Coach Kearney had any similar relationships with student-athletes either before or after the reported relationship, which began about 10 1/2 years ago and ended at least about eight years ago. Coach Kearney is a good person and has been very important to the University. However, she made this terrible mistake and used unacceptably poor judgment in having this relationship.

The University determined that it no longer was appropriate for Coach Kearney to serve as head coach or to work directly with our student-athletes and was prepared to begin the termination process. This was discussed with Coach Kearney recently. The University told Coach Kearney that we cannot condone such an intimate relationship, including one that is consensual, between a head coach and a student-athlete. We told Coach Kearney such a relationship is unprofessional and crosses the line of trust placed in the head coach for all aspects of the athletic program and the best interests of the student-athletes on the team.

As a public University, we are committed to transparency and disclosure. We also have a responsibility to our students to follow the strict federal laws that are designed to protect their privacy. The University will not identify the former student-athlete. We respect her privacy and appreciate her cooperation during our review.

The University’s Director of Women’s Athletics made interim arrangements for the track and field program pending the conclusion of the review and will move forward with plans to continue to provide coaching and support for the student-athletes in the program until a new head coach can be recruited and hired. Longtime assistant coach Rose Brimmer will lead the women's track and field program on an interim basis. Assistant Stephen Sisson will take on expanded duties as well. Work will begin immediately to fill for this period a third coaching position on the staff, as permitted by the NCAA.

She's a college coach, not high school. While the relationship is bad judgement and undermines her ability to effectively run a team, it was, as said, not illegal. We're a pious nation afraid to discuss sex and sexual relationships. She should have been offered a suspension without pay, not termination.

Heres' what doesn't make any sense. It was very known at the time that she was having a relationship with one of her athletes. I was sitting at the NCAA Championships when Bev was down on the track during warm-ups. She was standing with one of her athletes and just the way they were communicating/touching it seemed odd. I mentioned that to the coach I was sitting with and he said, "Oh, thats her girlfriend" sort of nonchalantly. And we went on discussing other stuff. So why did it take U Texas ten years to address this? And for U Texas to now act sanctimonious pisses me off. They had to know about it ten years ago (since everyone else did) and did nothing and now they jump on it. Isn't there a statue of limitations are something on stuff like this.

Just very, very odd.

Yes, I agree.

This serves as a warning to all those coaches out there who have done the same with one or more of their SA's. Start looking over your shoulder because it will eventually catch up to you and your family will pay. Get a new occupation before they catch up to you and if she/he was under 18, move to another country.

D1 Coach, Thanks for sharing that insight.

Methinks

Odd in terms of not logical or not ethical, yes.

Odd in terms of unusual behavior for a large administration (academic, business, gov't), no.

The pendulum has really swung. Too far, I think, although, in the past, the classroom was virtually a hunting ground for bachelor professors or those who wanted to trade in their current wives for a new model.

I teach at a small private college. My first year, there were 5 or 6 guys who retired. All of them were married to women 10-20 years their junior, all of them, I learned later, had been students. It's all verboten now, but, even so, I can see how it happens. I'm not exactly George Clooney, but I've been hit on by students multiple times. Luckily, I'm not really interested in ruining my marriage for a few minutes of pleasure with a giggling 19 year old (moderately interested maybe.... :) )

Last year we were all forced to watch and pass a test on a series of 'sexual harassment' videos. The videos must have been conceived of and written by Andrea Dworkin - or, maybe, a conservative Muslim cleric. The definition of sexual harassment was so all-encompassing that there was almost no way not to be guilty of violating them. For example, asking how someone's weekend went is considered sexual harrassment. Basically the message of the videos was 'do your work and nothing else' Of course when your work is teaching, that requires speaking to students. Usually teaching goes better if you're at least a little friendly. None of these rules have been enforced, or, taken seriously - I don't think - the videos were probably a CYA for the administration and in response to a rumored affair between a professor and student. Anyway, the whole situation is kind of nuts; the rules are insane and so are completely ignored unless an administrator needs an excuse to fire somebody. It's like making a rule against sneezing.

People find power and youth attractive. Making these sorts of rules is not going to stop affairs or flirtation from being common. The best reason for making those things against the rules is that it helps prevent preferential treatment being given to some students over others. The fact is, though that this happens anyway, and may be more common if the professor isn't getting any (maybe...).

I think it's wise not to f*** where you eat, but, this whole thing is like handing out speeding tickets at the Indianapolis 500. For that reason I think there has to be more to this story then we know (not to mention the fact that it's only come to a head 10 years later...). I wonder if they wanted to can her for other reasons which, by the rules were insufficient given her long tenure.

is wetmore next?

Bev's problem is she treated everyone around her like shit. If she was loved then this would be a non-issue. I know a dozen coaches that have old skeltons. But they are good people and still coach even after schools found out. This was an excuse to let her go. That's all.

What about the Baseball Coach? He gets arrested for drunk driving(breaks the law) and gets suspended for a few games! Bev breaks a "rule" and gets fired. Double standard?

Also, Mack's right hand man was physically assaulting female staff. What happened to him?

Meanwhile, two UT football players who are accused of rape will be back on the 40 acres this month getting a free education and room and board.

I guess if your female, black, and gay you have different standards!

Nobody asked, but here is a pic:

http://wpc.4d27.edgecastcdn.net/004D27/Awards/BETHonors2012/BeverlyKearney.jpg

Some thoughts:

1) What was the UT policy at the time? My guess is that all coaches agree not to have sexual relationships with their athletes. So this is a contract thing.

2) I am curious why it cropped up 10 years after the fact.

3) It is a bad idea for a person in a position of greater power to have an intimate relationship with a subordinate. (Yes athletes are subordinate to coaches).

A) It can ruin team chemistry if the athlete in the relationship is perceived to be getting special treatment.

B) The athlete could get to the point of being afraid to end the relationship out of fear of retaliation.

As for a double standard, look at Bobby Petrino's actions. Now he went further in that he actually got his lover a high paying job in the athletic department. He was fired for that along with lying, but I think there would have been serious repurcussions even if it had just been an affair.

I don't know her but if she treats people as poorly as people say someone who heard the rumor from 8 years ago (kids talk and reputations linger) and went to an admin after she pissed them off. Just a guess though.

As for the dismissal, if it is in the contract to not be in a relationship with an enrolled student then that is worth dismissal even if they are consenting adults. As one poster said people look at it weird and you don't want your university / business in that kind of image.

As far as America and our taboo with sex I agree. But there are a lot of weirdos out there too...

No question that things have gotten stricter about coach/athlete and professor/student relationships over the years but according to the news story it was against UT policy 10 years ago and had to be reported to higher ups.

However, in this case if it was 1 incident that was over 8 years ago and UT doesn't think it would happen again, it seems like a reprimand would be enough.

...just responded to the same poster on the other thread about this topic:

UT Fan? wrote:

I guess if your female, black, and gay you have different standards!

No, what it means is that when a person is a completely unlikable pain in the butt then nobody will go to bat for her. More importantly, it shows that there is zero tolerance when the university is going to have to pay big $$ to settle a lawsuit due to her screw up(s).

The same thing happened to Mack's assistant you mentioned - no double-standard there. He committed sexual harassment and after being placed on paid admin leave like Bev, he was then given the boot when the truth came out.

I don't know about your job, but at mine, if I'm convicted of drunk driving (while not on company business, obviously!) it will have no effect on my job; I'd get to keep it. If I have an affair with an underling, I would be summarily shown the door!

Not a game wrote:

I did not receive an email containing the links or videos. I will not waste my time on LR, looking through every little thing you post. If I don't get it by tomorrow morning I will move on to option 2 and begin the legal process tomorrow.

Since my name and my family, as well as yours and your friends, will have to be publicly dragged through your mess, you will absolutely be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Everyone who knows you will never forget that you not only watched me in the privacy of my bedroom, but my family members, as they changed/showered in their bathroom. You will not live this down if it goes public.

What, WHAT???

The Wetmore question is a legitimate one... his relationship with Heather likely started when she was running at CU. I always thought it was kind of creepy.