‘The University of Idaho will “most likely” not release a final report on the findings of a months-long investigation into allegations that Vandals volleyball head coach Chris Gonzalez has routinely physically, verbally and emotionally players, a university spokesperson confirmed Tuesday.
Idaho spokesperson Jodi Walker later reiterated in a telephone interview Tuesday that the university would also be “prevented” from discussing the reason for any making personnel decisions such as firing Gonzalez or widely criticized athletic director Terry Gawlik.
“Personnel decisions are protected with (Federal and state) personnel protections as far as us talking about them publicly,” Walker said.
Idaho players said on Tuesday that they have also been informed by the university’s Office of Civil Rights and Investigations and attorneys conducting the Gonzalez probe that a final report will not be released to the public.
Vandals players said OCRI and attorney’s for Thompson & Horton, the Texas-based law firm hired by the university to conduct the investigation, that they would receive copies or versions of the final report.
“The university will most likely not be able to disclose the report or the decision because of the FERPA-protected information in it and/or legal personnel protections,” Walker said in an email.
Walker added in an interview that the university could confirm an employee’s status but said she was not aware whether the school could reveal why a person was no longer employed by the school. For an example was an employee fired or did they resign or retire?
But Idaho players said alumni, student body and community members also deserve to know the findings of an investigation that was prompted by a Southern California News Group report published on Dec. 30 in which current and former players, as well as university employees, alleged Gonzalez routinely bullied and abused players, pushed at least two players over during practices, body…
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