A meeting request was emailed Sept. 7 to Texas Tech University athletic director Kirby Hocutt to discuss allegations of physical abuse, medical mistreatment and felony battery by former volleyball head coach Tony Graystone — six days before Graystone's dismissal.
“We would like to meet this week to discuss physical abuse and medical mistreatment of [redacted], a member of the TTU Volleyball team. [Redacted] felony battery committed by Head Coach Tony Graystone. It is shocking,” the email stated under the subject line "Physical abuse," according to documents obtained by The Daily Toreador student newspaper.
Due to FERPA laws, the name and email address of the sender was redacted. The carbon copied email was also redacted, per the reporting of Austin Jackson.
"The sender also requested that Hocutt not speak with Graystone or another redacted party until after the meeting due to 'fear of increased retaliation and intimidation.' They also requested that no additional parties attend the first meeting with Hocutt," Jackson wrote, adding, "Hocutt responded to the email in less than three hours, sharing his availability with the sender. A meeting was set for Sept. 9, and Hocutt announced Graystone’s dismissal on Sept. 13 without further details."
As reported by NBC affiliate KCBD in Lubbock, Hocutt took the meeting Sept. 9. His termination letter to Graystone stated, “As we discussed, as a result of your actions, Texas Tech is exercising its right under Section 5.A. of your Employment Contract to terminate your employment for cause effective immediately.”
The letter specified: “You will be paid any accrued vacation hours you may have, but all other contractual obligations between Texas Tech and you shall cease immediately.”
Associate head coach Alisa Blair is serving as interim head coach for the remainder of the 2026 season. Blair has been with the Red Raiders for four seasons, KCBD reported.
