An anonymous former Fairfield University player has publicly accused San Jose State University head volleyball coach Todd Kress — described here as the Todd Kress alleged assault — saying he attacked her in a hotel room in 1998 and that she informed SJSU officials in October 2024, according to Fox News Digital.
Todd Kress alleged assault
Accuser’s account and timeline
The accuser told Fox News Digital she sent a letter to Fairfield and an email to San Jose State University in October 2024 after reading accounts from members of the 2024 SJSU team describing concerning conduct by Kress, according to Fox News Digital. She said the alleged incident occurred after a 1998 NCAA Tournament game in a hotel following Fairfield’s loss to Clemson and that Fox News Digital verified her identity as someone who played for Kress in 1998.
Accuser’s details and excerpts from her letter
In the letter obtained by Fox News Digital the woman described a violent episode in which the coach allegedly smeared a substance on her and forced her into a bathtub. The account includes the lines: “He immediately took caramel” from a plastic container and smeared it on her face and hair, and that he “threatened to turn on the shower” while she was held down, according to excerpts published by Fox News Digital.
The former player said she fought to escape, ran from the hotel room and later contacted school officials to warn them about what she regards as a continuing safety threat to women in the program, according to the report.
SJSU response, emails and public records denial
Fox News Digital provided copies of emails showing San Jose State officials acknowledged receipt of the October 2024 letter, met with the former player and her attorney, and offered expressions of sympathy. Former interim Title IX and Gender Equity Officer Peter Lim emailed on Nov. 4, 2024, to set a meeting and followed up on Nov. 7, thanking the woman and her lawyer and saying the school was “evaluating the information” and determining “appropriate next steps,” according to the emails obtained by Fox News Digital.
When Fox News Digital submitted public-records requests seeking SJSU communications about any investigation, the university’s public records office denied the requests. SJSU cited privacy exemptions, personnel records rules and attorney-client privilege under California law, saying disclosure would implicate “substantial privacy interests” and that the public interest in disclosure was outweighed by privacy concerns, according to the university response provided to Fox News Digital.
Impact on the team and related lawsuits
The accuser told Fox News Digital she expected school officials to act to protect current players. Former SJSU player Brooke Slusser said she and other 2024 teammates were not informed of the complaint when it was made in the fall of 2024. Slusser, who played under Kress in 2023-24, is separately suing SJSU over her experiences on the team, according to reporting by Fox News Digital and related coverage.
Title IX and federal review context
The allegations arrive amid a broader U.S. Department of Education Title IX review of San Jose State tied to controversies from the 2024 season. That federal review reportedly concluded the university chose not to suspend a coach during the 2024 scandal; Fox News Digital reported the Department’s findings referenced a person labeled “Coach 2,” which the outlet said it reasonably believes points to Kress.
Federal Title IX reviews can produce administrative findings and require campuses to take corrective steps; such reviews also can overlap with campus-level inquiries, public-records appeals and civil litigation, which are among the processes likely to follow in high-profile cases like this one.
What comes next
As of publication, Fox News Digital reported no substantive public statement from Kress, SJSU or the California State University system specifically addressing these allegations. Likely next steps include additional administrative or Title IX inquiries at the university, possible public-records appeals by reporters or members of the public, and continued legal activity related to the 2024 season and separate lawsuits already filed against the university.
Investigations, appeals and civil cases can unfold concurrently; whether law enforcement will open a criminal investigation has not been reported in connection with this allegation.
FAQ
What happened with Todd Kress alleged assault?
An anonymous former Fairfield player alleges that in 1998 Kress assaulted her in a hotel room after a game and that she reported the incident to San Jose State University in October 2024. Fox News Digital verified the accuser’s identity and published the account; the allegation is unproven and presented as the woman’s account.
Why does Todd Kress alleged assault matter?
The claim raises questions about campus safety, institutional transparency and how universities respond to historical allegations against current staff. It also comes amid a Department of Education Title IX review of SJSU tied to the 2024 season, increasing scrutiny of the university’s handling of related issues.
What happens next?
Possible next steps include administrative or Title IX inquiries, appeals of SJSU public-records denials, further reporting and potential civil litigation. As of this report, no formal criminal charge related to this specific allegation has been reported.
Source: Reporting by Fox News Digital — full coverage and documents obtained by Fox News Digital are available at https://www.foxnews.com/sports/sjsu-volleyball-coachs-alleged-assault-victim-speaks-first-time-allegations-surfaced.
