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Rachel Fradette Campus editor campus@statenews.com
MSU gymnastics coach Klages retires amid Nassar scandal, lawsuit BY BRIGID KENNEDY BKENNEDY@STATENEWS.COM
MSU gymnastics head coach Kathie Klages retired from her position Tuesday amidst allegations she discouraged athletes from reporting sexual abuse. Klages was the longest-tenured head coach at MSU, in her 27th year. She was named Big Ten Coach of the Year three times. Klages has been named in two motions in a lawsuit against former MSU employee Larry Nassar. The motions allege that Klages was aware of allegations of sexual abuse against Nassar as early as 1997. Nassar is accused of sexually abusing patients in his role as a doctor, including MSU student-athletes and members of the U.S. Women’s Olympic Gymnastics Team. One motion alleges a plaintiff identified as Jane BMSU Doe told Klages she had concerns about her treatments with Nassar “sometime in late 1997 to mid 1998.” Klages allegedly told the plaintiff she could file a report, but the report “would have serious consequences” for both Jane BMSU Doe and Nassar. Klages allegedly called Nassar to warn him about the conversation. When Jane BMSU Doe showed up to her appointment with Nassar later that day, he told her she didn’t understand the treatment and allegedly performed the “procedure” again. Representatives from MSU allegedly told
“(Klages’) passionate defense of Dr. Nassar created an emotionally charged environment for the team.” Mark Hollis, MSU Athletic Director said via email to Klages
“potential victims” not to speak with the police or the media, and suggested “that athletes’ personal cellular phone would be checked for police or media contact,” according to court documents. Another motion alleges a plaintiff identified as Jane IMSU Doe, a participant in Spartan youth gymnastics, refused treatment from Nassar, but he held her down and “performed the ‘procedure’ against (her) will.” When Klages was informed of the incident, she allegedly told Jane IMSU Doe that “there is no reason to bring up Nassar’s conduct.” MSU policy would have mandated Klages to report incidents of sexual assault in the university community. Klages’ attorney, Shirlee Bobryk, denies that Klages was informed of Nassar’s alleged sexual abuse of his patients. “Had she ever received any information to cast doubt on the appropriateness of that trust in Dr. Nassar, she would have reacted immediately to protect her gymnasts,” Bobryk said in a statement provided to the Lansing State Journal. When asked to comment on Klages’ retirement, Bobryk confirmed that The State News is a student publication and then said, “I choose not to talk to you.” Klages’ retirement came one day after she was suspended with pay by the university. In a letter to Klages, MSU Athletic Director Mark Hollis said Klages’ “passionate defense of Dr. Nassar created an emotionally charged environment for the team.” Mike Rowe, formerly an assistant coach with the University of Pittsburgh, will serve as interim head coach for the gymnastics team. In the early-2000s, Rowe worked as a coach and choreographer at Lansing gymnastics club Geddert’s Twistars-USA. Twistars is named as a defendant in a lawsuit against Nassar. Nassar worked with Twistars gymnasts from 1996 to 2016, and multiple assaults allegedly took place on the premises. A parent allegedly complained about Nassar’s conduct to Twistars owner John Geddert in 1998, though the allegations were never addressed, according to court documents.
Head coach Kathie Klages during a match. Klages was suspended from her role at MSU on Feb. 13 after a Jan. 31 motion alleged she discouraged a gymnast from reporting former MSU employee Larry Nassar’s alleged sexual abuse. She retired on Feb. 14. STATE NEWS FILE PHOTO
Klages intends to “cooperate fully with any law enforcement or University investigations regarding Dr. Nassar,” according to Hollis’ let-
ter to Klages. MSU Director of New Media Matt Larson confirmed Klages’ retirement via email.
FORMER MSU GYMNASTICS COACH KATHIE KLAGES’ CAREER
1990 Klages becomes the fourth women’s gymnastics coach in MSU history
1997-98 Klages allegedly informed of Nassar’s sexual misconduct on two occasions
2006 Klages wins Big Ten Coach of the Year
Feb. 13, 2017 Klages suspended with pay from MSU after being named in a lawsuit against former MSU faculty member Larry Nassar
1990 Klages coaches Level 10 Junior Olympic National Champion
1996 Klages wins Big Ten Coach of the Year
2004 Klages wins Big Ten Coach of the Year
2010 MSU gymnast Kathryn Mahoney is paralyzed in a practice accident
Feb. 14, 2017 Klages retires from MSU
1979
1979 Klages begins her coaching career as head gymnastics coach at Spring Lake High School
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THE STATE N EWS
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1 6 , 2 01 7
2017
Klages announced her retirement on Feb. 14