Former Louisiana State University associate athletic director Sharon Lewis filed documents in federal court Thursday accusing Frank Wilson, the football team's new running backs coach and associate head coach, of exposing himself to her during a previous employment stint at the school.
As reported by The Athletic, Wilson spent six seasons as an LSU assistant before stints as head coach at University of Texas-San Antonio and McNeese State. LSU hired him back to join Brian Kelly’s first staff in December.
Lewis alleges that Wilson asked her to touch his genitalia in addition to trying to kiss another female employee without her consent. The allegations were added to Lewis’ ongoing lawsuit against LSU that argues the university retaliated against her after she reported claims of former LSU head coach Les Miles sexually harassing LSU athletics student workers.
In January, mere months after her lawsuit was filed, Lewis was fired amid mass staff layoffs.
Related: LSU Official Who Filed $50M Title IX Suit Has Been Fired
Lewis said she reported the allegations regarding Wilson to senior associate athletic director Miriam Segar and executive deputy athletic director Verge Ausberry, and said they failed to investigate or take any action, according to The Athletic. LSU released a statement, saying, "We are unaware of any prior allegations against Frank Wilson, and there is no evidence that any such allegations were ever reported to LSU officials. Further, none of these allegations were shared during the highly visible, independent Title IX review that LSU initiated last year."
USA Today reported Thursday that it spoke to three LSU employees, including Lewis, who provided more detail of inappropriate gestures and comments by Wilson, including a woman saying Wilson tried to kiss her in an after-hours meeting regarding football recruitment, The Athletic reported. The woman said she reported it to Lewis, and the woman shared a text message with USA Today telling Wilson the calls to her were not appropriate.
According to The Athletic, Wilson's salary at LSU has tripled — to $950,000 — upon is return.
