Former Evansville student suing school over alleged sexual assault by Walter McCarty

There’s more bad news concerning former Kentucky Wildcat and Evansville head coach Walter McCarty. A former Evansville student is suing the school for failing to provide a safe environment, alleging that she was sexually assaulted by McCarty, who served as the Purple Aces’ men’s basketball coach from March 2018 to January 2020.

The Title IX lawsuit was filed on Monday by well known victim’s rights attorney Michelle Simpson Tuegal, who represented sexual abuse survivors in cases vs. Michigan State University and the U.S. Olympic Committee over sexual abuse by disgraced doctor Larry Nassar. The former student, identified as Jane Doe, is a former athletic trainer. She alleges that McCarty sent her inappropriate messages on Snapchat, Instagram, and text, and pressured her to visit his home, where he sexually assaulted her on December 9, 2019. The former student’s attorneys say she reported the incident to a campus counselor three days later and was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

The lawsuit also claims the university received several more reports of misconduct by McCarty dating back to the start of his tenure, ranging from inappropriate messages to unwanted physical conduct. He was fired on January 21, 2020 following a university investigation into sexual impropriety.

“The female students and employees who experienced this pattern of harassment and sexual misconduct are real people, real women who simply wanted a safe environment to learn and work in, and our university failed us,” the woman said in a news release. “I am heartbroken that my school knew about Coach McCarty’s misconduct before what happened to me, and looked the other way. I will continue to go through this difficult process of holding the university accountable, because I want to prevent other women from going through the same thing I did.”

McCarty and Evansville released statements to ESPN last night denying the allegations.

“I’ve never assaulted anyone in my 47 years on this earth. It’s disheartening that someone would make up such a vicious lie to gain financial rewards,” McCarty wrote. “I’m excited and look forward to clearing my name and exposing these untruths. I am certain my name and reputation with be restored when it’s our time to do so and present the truth.”

“The University is confident it responded appropriately to all reports of misconduct regarding Mr. McCarty based on information it actually knew at the time; the University is similarly confident it responded reasonably to Jane Doe’s report,” it said in a statement obtained by ESPN. “UE looks forward to addressing the specific allegations in court, not in the media. In all that UE does, the safety and security of our students comes first. The University is wholly committed to ensuring a safe and welcoming environment for all. Our Title IX policies are designed to protect the entire campus community.

For more, read the stories linked below.

[ESPN, Courier & Press]