SJSU was told of decades-old allegations against volleyball coach during controversial 2024 season

IU Indianapolis volleyball player Elle Patterson opens up on experiencing the SJSU transgender scandal during her freshman year, and alleged scholarship deception by her coach at that time.

During the San Jose State University (SJSU) volleyball team’s scandal-ridden 2024 season, the athletic department received a letter from one of head coach Todd Kress’s former players.

The letter included allegations that Kress attacked her in a hotel room in 1998.

Emails show that SJSU officials acknowledged the receipt of the allegations, thanked the former player for coming forward, and apologized for her experiences. Despite this, Kress was never suspended and has continued to serve as the head coach of the women's volleyball team.

Head coach Todd Kress of the San Jose State Spartans looks on during the third set against the Air Force Falcons at Falcon Court at East Gym on October 19, 2024 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. (Andrew Wevers/Getty Images)

Fox News Digital was given copies of the emails exchanged between SJSU and the former Fairfield player, from an independently verified source. Fox News Digital has independently verified she played at Fairfield under Kress in the 1998 season, but is not disclosing her name.

Fox News Digital submitted a public records request seeking copies of documents with criteria that match the emails exchanged between SJSU and Kress’s former player, but the university formally declined the request, stating "the requested communications implicate substantial privacy interests."

Fox News Digital reached out to Kress, SJSU officials and the university’s legal counsel that handled the 2024 exchange with a series of questions, but did not receive a response from any of the parties.

SAN FRANCISCO