Brooke Slusser, a former volleyball player at San Jose State University (SJSU), has spoken out against the university's administration, alleging that they withheld crucial information about past misconduct allegations against head coach Todd Kress during her final season in 2024. Slusser claims she and her teammates were never informed about a letter sent to SJSU in October 2024, detailing allegations of an assault by Kress against a former player in 1998.
According to Slusser, rumors of Kress's alleged past actions circulated among players and reached her parents. Her parents advised her to avoid being alone with Kress, suggesting she bring an assistant coach or a teammate to any meetings. "I was told just to be safe and not be in a room alone with him when my parents found out about it," Slusser told Fox News Digital. "I didn't know all of the information, so it was kind of scary when I was concerned when everyone was telling me, 'We're not gonna tell you everything that happened 'cause we don't wanna scare you, but we're telling you from here on out, you are not allowed to be alone in a room with Todd Kress.'"
The allegations detailed in the letter, sent by a former player from Kress's time at Fairfield University in 1998, describe an incident where Kress allegedly forcibly threw the player on a bed, pulled down his pants, and then threw her into a bathtub, holding her down and threatening to turn on the shower.
Slusser stated that SJSU provided no information about these allegations to the team. "The school gave us absolutely zero information. This was never brought up once," she said. "I think anyone would remember that. And even when the article had come out, I had a bunch of old teammates texting me asking me if this was true, if I knew anything else, those types of things."
Emails reviewed by Fox News Digital indicate that SJSU officials acknowledged receipt of the allegations in October 2024, thanking the former player for coming forward and apologizing for her experiences. Despite this, Kress continued to serve as head coach. Notably, former SJSU assistant coach Melissa Batie-Smoose was suspended days after the letter was submitted, following a Title IX complaint. Her contract was not renewed, and she is now pursuing a wrongful termination lawsuit.
Slusser expressed her dismay over Batie-Smoose's suspension while Kress remained employed. "I think that's the part that bothers me the most, is that they're gonna let go of Melissa, who was always there for us, protected us, cared for us, and then you're gonna keep [Kress] on payroll," Slusser stated.
Slusser herself is involved in a lawsuit against the university and the California State University system related to her alleged experiences with Kress during the 2023 and 2024 seasons, including an incident involving a transgender former teammate. She issued a warning to current and prospective SJSU players: "I would say beware... see the man that you just committed to playing for for the next four years. It's not someone I would wanna send my daughter to play for or anyone that I know. I wouldn't send my worst enemy to play for him."
SJSU formally declined a public records request for documents related to the exchanged emails, citing privacy concerns. Fox News Digital reached out to Kress, SJSU officials, and the university's legal counsel for comment but received no response. The university and Kress have not responded to requests for comment on Slusser's recent statements.