In November 2024, San Jose State University associate head volleyball coach Melissa Batie-Smoose filed a Title IX complaint against the school over the inclusion of a transgender athlete on the volleyball team. Batie-Smoose was later suspended, but SJSU would not confirm what led to her suspension.
This week, according to ABC 13, Batie-Smoose has filed a lawsuit against the Board of Trustees of the California State University System, alleging she was wrongfully suspended in retaliation of her Title IX Complaint.
Related: Suspended SJSU Associate Head Volleyball Coach Says School Trying to ‘Silence’ Her
Stories of Blaire Fleming, the transgender athlete on SJSU’s volleyball team, dominated headlines throughout the 2024 season, as several Mountain West Conference opponents forfeited games against the Spartans in protest. The conference opened an investigation into Fleming and the allegations against her, but.
"I knew it from the day that I saw Blaire play, but for me it was a focus on the female athletes, that's really why I knew I was here, I had a purpose beyond coaching, which was to protect the female athletes for their privacy, safety and wellbeing, so that was always solely my focus, but not on Blaire," Batie-Smoose said.
In her initial Title IX complaint, Batie-Smoose accused SJSU of giving Fleming special privileges that were not afforded to other volleyball players, including missing practices and getting first choice on accommodations for away games.
While Fleming remained silent for most of her 2024 season, she did respond to Fox News based on Batie-Smoose’s recent lawsuit and allegations. Said Fleming, "The only times I showed up to practice with ‘no excuse’ and sat in the stands was when I was injured and couldn’t play. Brooke Slusser and Melissa need to get a life.”
Following her suspension, SJSU did not renew Batie-Smoose’s contract in January 2025, and she said she has been struggling to find coaching jobs in the aftermath. She believes the lack of new opportunities stems from her Title IX complaint.
"I've been a very successful coach and I've coached for a long time and I'm not even getting any looks for any coaching jobs," Batie-Smoose said.
