Kennesaw State University has fired softball head coach Torrence "Tory" Acheson after an investigation by the University's Office of Title IX found Acheson violated its Sexual Misconduct Policy by making inappropriate comments to members of the team. The investigation also uncovered systematic problems with how the complaints were handled.
The University began an investigation in June after an anonymous letter was sent from someone claiming to be a staff member to school administrators. Six current undergraduate softball players, two former players, and two assistant coaches were interviewed as witnesses in the investigation.
11Alive received a redacted copy of Kennesaw State's Office of Title IX investigation though an Open Records Request that included the anonymous letter. The investigation revealed an earlier anonymous letter had been sent to Athletic Director Vaughn Williams on April 12, 2016.
Kennesaw State's Interim President Houston D. Davis released the following statement through a release from the University:
"We are extremely disappointed in Coach Acheson's behavior and apologize to our student-athletes and their parents. This type of conduct simply will not be tolerated at Kennesaw State."
As a result of the investigation, the University is putting in place institutional changes to increase department Title IX training, new reporting structures and the development of enhanced departmental protocols.
The anonymous letters
The first anonymous letter was sent to Athletic Director Williams and Senior Associate Athletic Director Scott Whitlock on April 12. The letter detailed allegations of Acheson "belittling" members of the team and threatening to take their money or stipends away because they were "stealing scholarship money from him because they are not performing."
The sender was "absolutely infuriated" that he or she had to send the letter and called Acheson's actions "scare tactics." He or she also brings up supposed anger issues in a previous coaching position at Tennessee Tech.
The second anonymous letter was sent June 14 to Rod Bossert, Assistance Vice President for KSU Human Resources, as well as Marion Fedrick, the University System of Georgia's Vice Chancellor for Human Resources.
It is not known if the sender is the same sender as the April 12 letter.
The sender, who claims to have worked at the University for several years, wrote that he or she would not disclose his or her name in fear of losing his or her job or possibly be alienated by other members of the staff. The sender may have been a staff member in the athletic department after repeatedly referring to the department as "our department."
The sender said he or she had heard from several sources in the University about "detrimental behaviors and actions towards female players of the KSU softball team by softball coach, Tory Acheson."
The sender was upset because he or she alleged that the athletic department had found out several weeks prior and had taken no action. It is not clear if the sender is referring to the first anonymous letter.
"Coach Acheson's has (sic) been reported to have made sexual comments towards the players, insinuations the girls were 'servicing' the baseball players, threatening to remove players scholarships for their lack of performance, uncontrollable berating of the coaching staff and players as well as physically touching players in inappropriate manners," the letter states.
The sender said he or she realized these types of misconduct are not being dealt with claiming similar previous offenses have occurred.
"We do not understand why these actions/behaviors are being tolerated within our department...I am aware that this type of conduct happens but I continue to be thoroughly disgusted by men who seem to think it is acceptable to make sexual comments to young women without those that make them being held accountable."
Sexual misconduct allegations
The University's release indicated Acheson was fired as a result of sexual misconduct.
The June 14 letter alleges, and the investigation confirmed, Acheson made inappropriate sexual comments to his players out of anger and rage.
The investigation also revealed a letter of reprimand from Whitlock to Acheson after the first complaint. While parts of it are redacted, it does shed a light on what the "inappropriate touching" the second letter refers to could be.
"Coaches MUST let the sports medicine staff treat/ massage the student-athletes- the coaching staff should not do that!" it stated.
The investigation concluded Acheson is not guilty of the University's definition of sexual assault, but it did find Acheson hugged his players and kissed them on the cheek. The investigation states it is not likely that these actions rose to the level of nonconsensual sexual touching.
Acheson addressed a specific complaint about his joking one player had the clap: "Someone heard me say avoid the clap and it was offensive to them. I was too comfortable and relaxed. It felt like me and my kids hanging out versus the coach and the players."
Outbursts because of wife's death
The allegations against Acheson included moments of rage and outbursts towards the players, including sexual inappropriate comments regarding the females' boyfriends and removing their scholarships.
Acheson admitted to making the comments during the investigation, but he said they need additional context.
In Witlock's reprimand letter to Acheson on May 28, it revealed Acheson apologized for the comments, but under no circumstance were the comments justified.
In a written response to Whitlock's letter of reprimand, Acheson said the death of his wife had been making him emotional resulting in the outbursts. Acheson's wife, Terry, died suddenly in their Tennessee home in November 2014.
"When my wife passed away, that first year was a whirlwind that I never really had time to come to grips with the fact that she's really gone. I hit this wall of anger, frustration, and denial. I was really unhappy a lot and borderline depressed," Acheson said in the response.
The letter of misconduct directed the coach to enroll in a program for grief and anger management.
Falsified employment application
The investigation found Acheson falsified his KSU employment application. According to a copy of the employment application obtained by 11Alive News, when asked “Have you ever resigned from a position after being notified that your work or conduct was unsatisfactory?”, Acheson answered no.
In a follow-up interview with investigators Erika Gravett and Alicia Stignani on July 11, Acheson revealed he left Tennessee Tech under questionable circumstances: “It was a very complicated thing. I tried to beat the system. I wanted to purchase a computer for the softball program and I cooked up a way to pay for it with some travel claims that were not really accurate.”
Acheson admitted he was asked to leave. He also admitted he was asked to resign in lieu of termination.
“I did not tell the whole story. The way it looked is I would have stolen money. I never really came out and said this is why I left. I told KSU that I left because I had a disagreement with my Athletic Director," he told investigators.
The investigation findings also determined Acheson had “a prior similar complaint at Tennessee Tech and suggests a pattern of sexual misconduct”.
Athletic Directors' misconduct
After the first anonymous letter that was sent to the Athletic Directors, Williams decided to deal with the issues laid out against Acheson internally because he did not see it as a Title IX issue, according to an interview he gave to investigators.
"I looked at that letter. I saw scholarships and anger. The last piece was about the boyfriends. I did not see this as Title IX," he said.
The investigation concluded that Williams and Whitlock should have notified other departments of the University, including Legal affairs, Human Resources and/or the Title IX Office. They did, however, share the letter with other members of the Athletics Department.
The investigation concluded the pair failed to discipline Acheson appropriately. The investigation said the letter "did not state consequences for failure to correct or change his behavior."
Following the investigation, the Office of Title IX recommended a suspension for Williams and Whitlock.
Findings of investigation
- Acheson became angry of several occasions and “reacted badly”. “These displays of anger made some of the team members feel uncomfortable and contributed to the hostile environment.
- Williams and Whitlock failed to notify anyone outside of Intercollegiate athletics about the allegations. The complaint was never sent to Legal affairs, human resources, or Title IX Coordinator.
- Williams and Whitlock failed to discipline Acheson appropriately. The May 28 letter of reprimand “did not state consequences for failure to correct or change his behavior”.
- Acheson falsified his employment application by lying about why he left Tennessee Tech.
- “It is more likely than not that Acheson violated the sexual harassment provision of KSU’s Sexual Misconduct Policy”. Acheson told investigators “of a prior similar complaint at Tennessee Tech and suggests a pattern of sexual misconduct”.
- Recommendation: TERMINATION for Acheson
- Recommendation: SUSPENSION for Whitlock
- Recommendation: SUSPENSION for Williams “Failure to manage further complaints appropriately will result in further discipline up to and including termination”
- The current structure at KSU does not provide level of attention needed for compliance, including sexual misconduct. “This model is not consistent with other USG institutions”.
KSU declined to go on camera with 11Alive News to comment on the report. In a statement, a spokesperson said they had "identified several opportunities for improvement in its Title IX compliance" and "will be instituting changes to improve the process".
While the initial statement released by KSU focused on those systematic changes and the termination of Acheson, when questioned further by 11Alive News about the suggested suspensions of the Athletic Director and Associate Atheletic Director, the school released a second statement.
"Kennesaw State Interim President Houston Davis has accepted all of the recommendations outlined in the report related to personnel. As for the other recommendations, we are working on making the appropriate adjustments," the statement reads.
11Alive News spoke with several students Wednesday evening who did not want to go on camera, but said the coach was well-liked, and some of the softball players said they are heartbroken that he is gone.
As of Wednesday night, Acheson was still listed on KSU's faculty website. 11Alive News reached out to him for comment, but have not yet heard back.
