Stanford head football coach investigated for bullying female staffers: report
Stanford head football coach investigated for treatment of staff members
Coach Troy Taylor, head coach of Stanford football, has been investigated on two different occasions for treatment of athletic department staff members per an ESPN investigative report.
STANFORD, Calif. - Stanford head football coach Troy Taylor has been the subject of two investigations after accusations that he bullied and belittled female staffers and made inappropriate comments about another woman in the program, according to a report.
ESPN reports that they have documents showing that, after the first investigation, Coach Taylor signed a letter acknowledging that he could be fired if the behavior continues.
Taylor is still on the job.
"My first reaction to the reports that came out was that it took me to a place of outdated and antiquated ways of running a college athletics department," said Doctor Shaun Fletcher, a professor of public relations and sports communication at San Jose State University.
Stanford head football coach Troy Taylor.
Stanford has gone 3 and 9 in each of Taylor's last two seasons on the sidelines.
In a statement from a Stanford University spokesperson to KTVU, they said, "Stanford believes in upholding the highest standards of behavior in the workplace. The University received complaints regarding Coach Taylor and a third party investigated the matter thoroughly." The statement goes on to say last summer Taylor underwent coaching as a corrective measure. They said Taylor, "has committed to nurturing the respectful working environment that is essential to the success of all our athletics programs."
Fletcher said the level of trust between athletic department leaders and university administrators and staff members can lead to problems. "So specifically, within sport, often times these kinds of toxic environments and exploitation happens because a lot of trust is placed in those who lead athletic programs,"
Several student athletes who spoke to KTVU on campus on Thursday said the national exposure on the issues surrounding Coach Taylor could reflect negatively on the university, but they have never personally seen nor experienced any such problems.
"I had such a great experience. I am not sure how other sports are going through something like that, but as far as I can say, baseball has been nothing but positive," said Brett Barrera a Stanford graduate who played baseball for the school.
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