First-year Louisiana State University head football coach Brian Kelly said LSU supports running backs coach and associate head coach Frank Wilson after he was accused of sexual harassment by former associate athletic director Sharon Lewis in an amended lawsuit earlier this month.
“We know of no lawsuit that has been filed regarding those allegations that were made,” Kelly said Wednesday, as reported by The Advocate of Baton Rouge. “His status here is unchanged, and we consider those as being egregious and simply allegations that were unfounded.
“It does not affect Frank Wilson and the person that we know. We stand behind him firmly as a member of our staff.”
Lewis alleged in court filings earlier this month that Wilson showed her his genitals several years ago and that he kissed another female employee in the LSU athletic department without the woman's consent. Two other women who worked in LSU's athletic department and who described inappropriate behavior from Wilson, according to a USA Today report cited by The Advocate.
Related: Sharon Lewis Adds New Claim of Harassment to LSU Lawsuit
Lewis added the accusations to a lawsuit she filed last year against the school, which terminated her employment in January. Lewis' case argues LSU officials retaliated against her for attempting to report sexual harassment.
"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," LSU spokesman Ernie Ballard said in a statement when Lewis filed the allegations earlier this month. "Further, none of these allegations were shared during the highly visible, independent Title IX review that LSU initiated last year."
Wilson was hired in December as one of LSU's top assistants. He is not named as a defendant in the lawsuit, and has not responded to the allegations.
