A former Nebraska women's basketball player is suing athletic director Trev Alberts, head women's basketball coach Amy Williams, former assistant coach Chuck Love Jr. and the UNL Board of Regents, for failing to investigate or prevent a sexual relationship the player had with a former assistant coach.
According to WOWT, Ashley Scoggin alleges that Love, then an associate coach, was married but had multiple relationships with UNL students. She had an internship with Nebraska Athletics in the summer of 2021 that had her working mostly in Love’s office.
Scoggin said Love was persistent in asking to see her outside of school events. Eventually, Scoggin met late at night in a parking lot. Court documents say Scoggin brought alcohol, at Love's request. He then kissed her, allegedly asking, “Have you ever done anything with a coach before?”
Scoggin said she'd feared retaliation if she reported the relationship.
The suit alleges Love expected Scoggin to have sex with him whenever and wherever he wanted, including across multiple UNL athletic facilities.
The relationship was formally confirmed in February 2022. The night before the team played at Penn State, Scoggin’s teammates recorded her presence in Love’s hotel room and confronted her about it and reported it to Williams.
Williams called a team meeting the next day, where Scoggin says she was interrogated by her teammates and Williams blamed Scoggin for what happened. Scoggin and Love both denied formal relations. Williams also did not counsel her players on what may have been an abuse of power on Love’s part.
Scoggin was later suspended from the team, and Love was suspended with pay but later resigned.
Scoggin was later cut from the roster and claims she was not told her rights under Title IX. She also alleges Alberts never ordered an investigation or put any new policies in place as a result.
“NU, Williams and Alberts were motivated to avoid scandal and embarrassment to the Cornhuskers women’s basketball program instead of being motivated to protect its student-athlete, Ashley,” the lawsuit said.
“NU, Williams and Alberts allowed the speculation and perception to fester that Ashley was ‘equally to blame’ or otherwise had done something improper when they should have sent a clear message that it is always improper for a professional coach to pursue a sexual relationship with a student-athlete.”
The lawsuit states Scoggin, who wants a jury trial in Lincoln, is seeking an undetermined amount in compensatory and punitive damages in addition to attorney fees.
