Records show that Tennessee football coach Butch Jones had two telephone conversations with former Volunteers receiver Drae Bowles the same day a woman said two UT players sexually assaulted her.

According to the records, which were obtained by ESPN.com through state open records laws, Jones and Bowles spoke twice on Nov. 16, 2014. Their first conversation lasted seven minutes, and a second conversation about six hours later lasted three minutes. Jones also talked to Bowles' father, Dexter Bowles, for seven minutes that night.

Tennessee coach Butch Jones has denied doing anything wrong and has said he would "fight all of these false attacks on my character." Marvin Gentry/USA TODAY Sports

Bowles, who transferred to UT-Chattanooga after the 2014 season, claimed in an affidavit that he was attacked by teammates for helping the woman, a former UT student-athlete. Bowles also claimed that Jones told him he "betrayed the team" by helping her.

Jones denied Bowles' claims again on Wednesday.

"Regarding the calls to Drae Bowles and his father, I care about Drae as a person and as a player and have frequent communications with players or their parents," Jones said in a statement. "I am very comfortable with everything Drae, Mr. Bowles, and I discussed, and I wish him nothing but the very best. My intent was to support Drae and make sure he was OK. There's nothing more important to me than the ultimate success in the life of our students."

Bowles' affidavit was part of a Title IX lawsuit against Tennessee filed by eight women in February. Seven of the women claimed UT men's basketball and football players sexually assaulted them. The women claimed the athletics department created a hostile sexual environment and favored athletes, particularly football players, in its investigations and student judiciary process.

On Tuesday, U.S. District Court Judge Aleta Trauger denied the university's request to move the lawsuit from Nashville to Knoxville.

Former Tennessee players A.J. Johnson and Michael Williams were indicted for sexually assaulting the woman whom Bowles helped. Johnson and Williams were suspended from UT's football team the day after the woman reported the rape. They are scheduled for separate trials in Knoxville, Tennessee, this summer.

The telephone records show Jones called Johnson, a star linebacker, six times on Nov. 16. He also called former Vols linebacker Curt Maggitt four times on the same day. In an amended complaint filed by the women last month, Bowles claimed Maggitt punched him in the mouth. Bowles also said teammates Geraldo Orta and Marlin Lane confronted him the next day.

"Anytime we have a disciplinary issue with a player, we have as many conversations as needed with players, parents, law enforcement, whomever, until we can be sure that we are making the best decision possible," Jones said in a statement. "These are decisions that can be life-changing for these individuals. After taking into account all the information we could gather in this case, we made the decision to suspend two student-athletes from the team immediately."

In an interview with ESPN.com last week, Tennessee athletic director Dave Hart said he believes Jones handled the situation properly.

"Sexual assault is an extremely serious issue," Hart said. "It's serious to me. I have two daughters and three granddaughters. Sexual assault is unacceptable. It's a serious priority on campuses across the country. Due process can't be ignored for the same reasons."