Academic coach who allegedly coerced student into sex with daughter fired from Notre Dame

Roberta Bernstein | USATODAY

The university employee allegedly coerced a black student into having sex with her daughter.

The unnamed student has filed a lawsuit in St. Joseph County Circuit Court against the employee and university. The suit reads that the administrator and academic coach -- who counseled students and student athletes -- "orchestrated, initiated, directed and coordinated a sexually and racially motivated inappropriate and demeaning relationship" with the unnamed plaintiff.

It also says that the employee pressured the student to remain in the relationship against his will, provided condoms and hotel rooms, and then threatened him when he tried to end the relationship, among other allegations.

The academic coach had "a history of arranging multiple sexual liaisons between her daughter and other African-American students, including varsity basketball and football players," according to a press release from the law firm representing the student, Anderson, Agostino & Keller, and information from the suit.

The daughter, a university employee, is a student at a nearby school, according to the firm. She was not found to be in violation of any university policy.

A statement USA TODAY College received from Paul Brown, vice president of the university's Office of Public Affairs & Communication, says that the "allegations against the University of Notre Dame in the complaint are unfounded, as are gratuitous and unfounded references to 'student athletes' -- an allegation that is nothing more than cynical attempt to attract publicity."

According to NBC News, the student "enrolled at Notre Dame in 2014 and met with the defendant for academic support in spring 2015, at which point she 'immediately' coordinated the relationship."



This story originally appeared on the USA TODAY College blog, a news source produced for college students by student journalists. The blog closed in September of 2017.