‘The University of Idaho will “most likely” not release a final report on the findings of a months-long investigation into allegations that Vandals volleyball head coach Chris Gonzalez has routinely physically, verbally and emotionally players, a university spokesperson confirmed Tuesday.
Idaho spokesperson Jodi Walker later reiterated in a telephone interview Tuesday that the university would also be “prevented” from discussing the reason for any making personnel decisions such as firing Gonzalez or widely criticized athletic director Terry Gawlik.
“Personnel decisions are protected with (Federal and state) personnel protections as far as us talking about them publicly,” Walker said.
Idaho players said on Tuesday that they have also been informed by the university’s Office of Civil Rights and Investigations and attorneys conducting the Gonzalez probe that a final report will not be released to the public.
Vandals players said OCRI and attorney’s for Thompson & Horton, the Texas-based law firm hired by the university to conduct the investigation, that they would receive copies or versions of the final report.
“The university will most likely not be able to disclose the report or the decision because of the FERPA-protected information in it and/or legal personnel protections,” Walker said in an email.
Walker added in an interview that the university could confirm an employee’s status but said she was not aware whether the school could reveal why a person was no longer employed by the school. For an example was an employee fired or did they resign or retire?
But Idaho players said alumni, student body and community members also deserve to know the findings of an investigation that was prompted by a Southern California News Group report published on Dec. 30 in which current and former players, as well as university employees, alleged Gonzalez routinely bullied and abused players, pushed at least two players over during practices, body shamed, inappropriately touched and denied them food on road trips, pressured athletes to play or train against the recommendations of the school’s sports medicine staff, made racially insensitive remarks and threatened to retaliate against players who complained about him to university officials during his two seasons at the Big Sky Conference school.
The ensuing scandal has led to widespread and growing calls for the university president C. Scott Green to fire Gonzalez and Gawlik, protests at Idaho sporting events, threats by alumni to withhold contributions to the school, and growing criticism of Green’s leadership and the university’s handling of numerous credible allegations that were first brought to Gawlik, Green and other university officials attention more than 16 months ago.
“I think with the amount of people (in the Idaho community) who have invested in this and supported us, they deserve to know at least the major outcomes” of the investigation, said Emma Patterson, an Idaho middle blocker.
Thompson & Horton attorneys have interviewed 37 people and have also “reviewed information provided by players, coaches, other athletic staff, and administrators,” according to an email to Idaho players from Holly G. McIntush, one of the attorneys conducting the investigation.
McIntush said in the email that attorneys have at least four more interviews scheduled and “are also still waiting to hear back from a few other potential witnesses.” Thompson & Horton will also be conducting follow-up interviews this week with individuals who have made specific complaints, according to interviews with current and former Idaho players and emails. McIntush has asked at least four current players to make themselves available for two- to three-hour follow-up interviews this week, according to interviews and emails.
Attorneys have conducted “more than 80 hours” of interviews so far, Walker said in an email.
“That will need to be compiled,” Walker said. “While we have asked them to work quickly, it will take some time to provide thorough and well-documented accounting of the interviews.”
The “report will be delivered to the Office of Civil Rights and Investigations,” Walker said. “Decisions from it will be made by the appropriate person. For example, personnel decisions are made by the President while policy and procedure decisions can be made at the unit level.”
Walker said the university’s general counsel confirmed that players who have filed complaints with the school would receive a report on the investigation’s findings.
Walker added, “We’re following our policy. We’re waiting for the investigation to be completed and then the president will make a decision.”
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