Matt Mencarini

Lansing State Journal

EAST LANSING -- A coach accused in court records of discouraging a then-teenage girl from filing a sexual assault complaint against Larry Nassar nearly 20 years ago was suspended Monday by the university, according to an e-mail the State Journal obtained.

The e-mail was sent around 2:15 p.m. on Monday from Associate Athletic Director Richard Bader to several people associated with the women's gymnastics team.

"I write this afternoon to update you that Coach (Kathie) Klages was suspended from her coaching duties this morning," he wrote. "While the University does not disclose specific information about personnel actions, I do wish to assure you that the team continues to have our complete support."

Mike Rowe will serve as interim head coach for the remainder of the season, Bader said in the e-mail. His e-mail didn't include a reason for the suspension.

Read more:

Feds: Ex-gymnastics doctor Nassar had computer files destroyed

Five more girls and women allege assault by ex-MSU doctor

MSU spokesman Jason Cody confirmed that Klages was suspended on Monday but declined to comment on the reason. A message was left seeking comment from Klages.

Since September, more than 60 women and girls have told law enforcement that Nassar, who worked as an MSU team physician for nearly 20 years, sexually assaulted them, many saying the assaults occurred during medical appointments.

Nassar, 53, of Holt, faces three first-degree criminal sexual conduct charges in Ingham County and three federal charges related to possessing, obtaining or destroying child pornography images or videos. However, Nassar has not been charged with crimes related to his role as a doctor for the university.

Among the more than 30 women and girls who have filed lawsuits against MSU and Nassar is a current scholarship athlete, who is represented by attorney Jamie White.

"It's good to see the university is taking some steps in the right direction," he said of Klages' suspension. "But they have a long way to go."

According to court documents filed last month, Klages, who is in her 27th year as the women's gymnastics coach, cautioned a teenage girl in the late 1990s that reporting her concerns about Nassar's treatments could result in "serious consequences" for Nassar and the girl.

Now an adult, the woman identified in court documents as Jane BMSU Doe filed paperwork to join the federal lawsuit against MSU, Nassar, USA Gymnastics and Twistars Gymnastics Club. She alleges Nassar sexually assaulted her on several occasions between early 1997 — when she was training as a youth "under the instruction of Kathie Klages" — and late 1999. One of those alleged incidents occurred in 1998 hours after she brought her concerns to Klages, according to the motion.

The alleged sexual assaults occurred during medical procedures, according to the court documents, and Klages told the girl to get treatment from Nassar for lower back pain.

According to the court documents, Klages told the girl that she had known Nassar for years and could not imagine him doing anything questionable. She further explained that the girl must have been "misunderstanding" or "reading into" the treatment Nassar was providing.

A message was left seeking comment from Attorney David Mittleman, who filed the court documents that named Klages.

Klages' suspension has renewed calls for an independent investigation of who at the university knew of allegations before they became public in September.

"This is obviously related to the Nassar matter," said John Manly, a California-based attorney who represents nearly two dozen women who have sued MSU and Nassar. "It points out now more than ever why there needs to be a fully independent investigation of MSU."

Manly said he has full confidence in the Michigan State University Police Department to conduct the criminal investigation of Nassar, but that an independent and independently funded investigation should focus on the university's involvement.

White, the attorney representing the current scholarship athlete, previously called for an independent criminal investigation and asked the Michigan Attorney General's Office, which is prospecting Nassar, to appoint a new law enforcement agency to lead the investigation.

A spokeswoman for Attorney General Bill Schuette said he doesn't have the authority to appoint a different law enforcement agency to lead an investigation and that he supports MSU Police Chief Jim Dunlap.

The university is currently in the midst of two high-profile sexual assault investigations related to the athletic department. In addition to the Nassar investigation, MSU police are investigating three MSU football players and a staff member associated with the football team, according to a statement released last week.

No charges have been filed in that sexual assault investigation, but Ingham County prosecutors are expected to receive police reports this week.

In the statement announcing the suspensions, the university said it hired an outside Title IX consultant to conduct the internal Title IX investigations related to the football players, and hired an outside law firm to investigate the football program and staff members' compliance with university policy.

And there are four active investigations related to Nassar, which are all being conducted by the university or its police department. In addition to the criminal and Title IX investigations, the university is conducting an internal review of Nassar's work and a policy and protocol review of the MSU HealthTeam, said Cody, the MSU spokesman. An outside law firm is advising the university on its review of Nassar's work.

When asked why the university turned to outside investigators for allegations related to the football program compared to internal investigators for Nassar allegations, Cody said MSU "felt given the circumstances of the case that that was prudent thing to do."

Contact Matt Mencarini at (517) 267-1347 or mmencarini@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattMencarini.