The University of Colorado Board of Regents have passed the decision on to CU President Bruce Benson on how to handle the university’s failure to report accusations of domestic violence against a former assistant football coach.

The university had hired outside attorneys to conduct an external investigation concerning Chancellor Phil DiStefano, Athletic Director Rick George and CU football coach Mike MacIntyre failing to report accusations of domestic abuse against Joe Tumpkin, a former assistant football coach.

After a nearly seven-hour executive session Monday at CU headquarters in Denver, the regents released a statement saying they had a “collaborative discussion on issues surrounding” the matter. The statement also said: “The board directed President Bruce Benson, in consultation with the board, to outline any necessary changes to university policies and procedures, specify how training and education will be enhanced, and recommend appropriate action for CU employees involved.”

A public report will be issued when complete, the statement said. A report conducted by outside investigators was completed Friday and given to regents to analyze, but CU spokesman Ken McConnellogue said the public will never get to see this report due to legal and personnel matters.

Regents called a special board meeting that immediately kicked off with an executive session at 10:30 a.m. By 5 p.m., the regents were still discussing matters, said CU spokesman Ken McConnellogue.

“This particular Board of Regents — I don’t know if they’ve dealt with something like this,” McConnellogue said.

The employees involved in the investigation — MacIntyre, George and DiStefano — all attended the executive session, where they “provided their perspectives” and were questioned by regents, McConnellogue said, noting that they’ve all had “distinguished careers” within the university.

MacIntyre’s contract extension will be taken up at the next regularly scheduled board meeting on June 15 and 16. Another meeting in between then has not been scheduled, McConnellogue said.

“Everyone at the university feels we could have managed that situation better than we did,” McConnellogue said. “We didn’t do as well as we could have or should have.”

He was unable to answer how much money CU had spent on legal counsel surrounding this case.

Tumpkin’s ex-girlfriend told MacIntyre on Dec. 9 that Tumpkin had repeatedly and violently abused her for the last two years. At some point after this, MacIntyre informed CU Athletic Director Rick George about the allegations. George then informed Chancellor Phil DiStefano.

The victim left a voicemail for MacIntrye on Dec. 15, saying she was taking the allegations to the police and filing for a restraining order.

MacIntrye still chose Tumpkin to call defensive plays in the Buffs’ appearance at the Alamo Bowl. CU claims not to have heard about the restraining order until Jan. 6 when a Daily Camera reporter called with questions for the university.

Tumpkin was suspended Jan. 6 and asked to resign on Jan. 27. On Feb. 1, he was arrested and later charged with five felony counts of second-degree assault.

DiStefano said he chose not to report the domestic abuse allegations because he didn’t believe he had to, based on university policy.

The law firm representing CU, Philadelphia-based Cozen O’Connor, recently investigated Baylor University and produced a report showing that the university did not take seriously complaints of women who had been assaulted by football players. Their investigation resulted in Baylor firing its football coach, suspending its athletic director and demoting university president Kenneth Starr.

Elizabeth Hernandez: 303-473-1106, hernandeze@dailycamera.com