Former JV Basketball Coach Arrested for Inappropriate Relationship with Student-Athlete

Anne Collins, a former junior varsity basketball coach in Brockport, N.Y., has been charged with five counts of third-degree criminal sexual acts.

Collins is accused of engaging in inappropriate sexual contact with a then 15-year-old student-athlete. The offense occurred for six months in 2018. No other victims have come forward at this time, but Collins was employed in the school district from 2017-2022.

In a statement, the Brockport school district said, “Although the investigation determined that none of the criminal conduct took place on school property, we will not tolerate such conduct and have worked with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office with their investigation to ensure the safety of our students both on and off campus. We encourage any students, former students, parents, or staff who may have concerns or information related to this matter to please call 911.”

According to the student’s report, Collins took the student off-campus and committed these crimes in the victim’s home among other places. Five instances occurred, resulting in Collins' five counts of third-degree criminal sexual acts.

Collins’s arrest comes at a time when sexual violence in athletic programs is gaining more and more attention. There is increasing pressure from parents and students alike for school administrators to follow through on their sexual harassment policies.

According to an article by the National Library of Medicine, “athletic programs hold promise for fostering sexual violence prevention but there is limited knowledge about how student-athletes conceptualize sexual violence and how athletes, coaches, and administrators perceive available prevention and response programs.”

In another study reported in the National Library of Medicine, researchers found that 38.6 percent of student-athletes reported some level of sexual harassment within a year. The case in Brockport is not new, it is simply the latest in a sad pattern of action experienced by student-athletes. 

Collins posted the $5,000 bail upon her arrest and has been released from custody.