SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 25: San Jose State swim coach Sage Hopkins speaks publicly for the primary time, Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in regards to the toll of his decade-long battle to guard feminine athletes from an athletic coach who sexually abused them. Saturday’s meet on the Aquatics Middle in San Jose, Calif., was the staff’s first since February 2020. (Karl Mondon/Bay Space Information Group)
Sage Hopkins was instrumental in pushing San Jose State to reckon with its intercourse abuse scandal, and he’s being rewarded with a contract extension as a part of a authorized settlement with the varsity.
Hopkins, the Spartans’ swim coach, advocated for swimmers who mentioned they had been sexually abused by former athletic coach Scott Shaw underneath the guise of remedy greater than a decade in the past. The athletics division and college didn't heed Hopkins’ warning for years whereas Shaw was nonetheless allowed to work with athletes.
The varsity reopened an investigation in December 2019 after Hopkins circulated almost 300 pages of paperwork in regards to the allegations to the NCAA and Mountain West Convention. Shaw resigned in August 2020 earlier than an unbiased investigation discovered that he sexually assaulted athletes throughout sports activities massages.
Former athletics director Marie Tuite was reassigned and ultimately resigned final 12 months after an investigation confirmed she retaliated in opposition to Hopkins, and ex-president Mary Papazian departed within the wake of the investigation, as properly. Jeff Konya has changed Tuite as AD and Stephen Perez has taken on the place of interim president.
Hopkins filed a retaliation lawsuit in opposition to the varsity, naming Tuite, in April of final 12 months. San Jose State introduced a settlement within the case simply final week that included a $225,000 fee and an apology, in addition to this extension.
Hopkins is in his sixteenth season teaching the Spartans and his new deal will run by way of the 2025-26 season.
His assertion within the announcement of the contract hinted at elevated help for the swimming program within the wake of the investigations, in addition to a nod to the ladies who spoke up about being abused.
“The swimming and diving staff fosters and encourages the longer term leaders of our world, and our alumni are fearless and courageous girls who blaze trails and lead by instance,” he mentioned.