Fired Nyack College softball coach facing sex charges involving players

SOUTH NYACK – The former head women's softball coach at Nyack College was charged Thursday with 94 counts of improper sexual contact with 13 players at the Christian school.

Kurt Ludwigsen, who was hired by the college in September and fired last month, faces accusations of kissing players, touching them sexually and harassing them, South Nyack-Grand View Police Chief Brent Newbury said.

Newbury said the police began receiving complaints in March that Ludwigsen had been acting inappropriately with the female players since October. Parents brought their concerns to both police and the college, he said.

"The parents thought something inappropriate was going on with the coach," Newbury said.

When police investigated further, Nyack College administrators told them Ludwigsen had just been fired.

Ludwigsen, a career softball coach who is married with two children, ages 15 and 12, as of July, surrendered to the police on Thursday. Ludwigsen, also known as Kurt Vogner, lives with his family in Ridgewood, New Jersey.

Police charged Ludwigsen with 44 misdemeanor counts of forcible touching of another's sexual/intimate parts, 49 misdemeanor counts of second-degree harassment, and one misdemeanor count of third-degree sexual abuse.

He is being held on $15,000 cash bail in the Rockland County jail pending a court appearance Monday.

Newbury said Ludwigsen didn't have a lawyer at his first court appearance.

"This is something we don't normally expect to see at Nyack College, or any college, but specifically Nyack College because of its missionary background," Newbury said. "While we're fortunate nothing really really serious happened, this is bad enough."

Ludwigsen's wife, Ann, released a statement through her attorney, Carmen Diaz-Duncan of Newsome O'Donnell.

"Ms. Ludwigsen was shocked to learn of the charges filed yesterday against her husband," Diaz-Duncan said. "She was wholly unaware of the circumstances surrounding the allegations and is learning the facts of this matter as they unfold. My client's ultimate concern is the well-being of her children. To that end, we are asking that the public kindly respect the family's privacy."

Nyack College officials did not immediately return a telephone call seeking comment.

In announcing the hiring of Ludwigsen for the 2014-2015 season, Nyack College cited his experience and officials' hopes he would make the team successful on the field.

Ludwigsen came to Nyack College from California and has more than 20 years coaching experience. He began his career as a member of the University of Arizona staff under the tutelage of eight-time national champion and two-time Team USA Olympic coach Mike Candrea.

Twitter: @lohudlegal