San Jose State University's athletic department was aware of decades-old assault allegations against women's volleyball head coach Todd Kress during the team's controversial 2024 season, according to emails obtained by Fox News Digital. The allegations were made by a former player who said Kress attacked her in a hotel room in 1998, when he was coaching at Fairfield University.
The former player sent a letter to SJSU on Oct. 24, 2024, detailing the alleged incident, which she said occurred after Fairfield's loss to Clemson in the first round of the 1998 NCAA Tournament. In the letter, she described being summoned to Kress's hotel room by a teammate, where she alleged Kress smeared caramel on her face, forcibly held her down, and blocked her exit. She also claimed he threatened to turn on the shower while she was in the bathtub and demanded she take a shot of liquor before allowing her to leave.
The former player wrote that she did not report the incident at the time because she feared losing her scholarship and jeopardizing those of her teammates. She said she decided to come forward now because of what she described as Kress's «egregious» handling of a transgender athlete on the SJSU team, which she believed showed a pattern of abusing his power over young athletes.
SJSU Athletic Director Jeff Konya responded to the former player on the same day she sent the letter, acknowledging receipt and stating he would share it with the proper authorities on campus. More than a week later, on Nov. 4, former SJSU interim Title IX and Gender Equity Officer Peter Lim reached out to arrange a meeting with the former player and her attorney. In an email, Lim expressed sympathy for her experiences and said the meeting would help assess potential next steps, which could include an investigation.
Despite these communications, Kress was never suspended and continued to serve as head coach throughout the 2024 season. The Spartans finished near the top of the Mountain West Conference standings, aided by several forfeits from opposing teams that refused to play against SJSU due to the presence of a transgender player on the roster. The controversy drew national attention and led to a lawsuit from a female teammate who claimed she was not informed of the player's birth sex before joining the team.
Fox News Digital submitted a public records request to SJSU seeking copies of the emails exchanged with the former player, but the university declined, citing «substantial privacy interests.» Fox News Digital also reached out to Kress, SJSU officials, and the university's legal counsel for comment but received no response.
The former player's allegations against Kress are not the first to surface during his coaching career. She noted in her letter that Kress's behavior had escalated over time, and she expressed concern that he would continue to target vulnerable athletes if not held accountable. The university's handling of the allegations has raised questions about its commitment to athlete safety and transparency.
The 2024 season was already one of the most turbulent in SJSU volleyball history, with the team at the center of a national debate over transgender athletes in women's sports. The controversy led to multiple forfeits, protests, and a fractured locker room. The revelation that the athletic department was aware of serious misconduct allegations against Kress during this period adds another layer of scrutiny to the program.
As of now, Kress remains the head coach of the SJSU women's volleyball team. The university has not announced any investigation into the 1998 allegations, nor has it commented on whether any disciplinary action is being considered. The former player's attorney has not publicly commented on the case.
