Todd Kress, head volleyball coach at San Jose State In a statement to Fox News Digital on Saturday. after his team lost in the Mountain West Conference finals in Colorado.
Kress addressed the national controversy over transgender players on his team and seven forfeited conference matches, including a semifinal matchup with Boise State.
“I will not sugarcoat the reality of our past two months. Our team is prepared and ready to play each match in accordance with established Mountain West and NCAA playing rules. We are not taking away anyone’s opportunity to participate,” Kress wrote.
Boise State, Wyoming, Utah State and Nevada have lost a total of seven games to SJSU this season.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS NEWS ON FOXNEWS.COM
Kress said each forfeit results in players, coaches and team officials receiving “Shocking and hateful message”
“Sadly, others who have played on the same team for many years without any incident Choose not to play with us this season. To be clear, it is We didn’t celebrate a victory by losing a single game. But we are ready to face the impact. Each announcement of a forfeit was shocking. Hateful messages that individuals choose to send are directed to student athletes. Our coaching staff and many others involved in our project,” Kress wrote.
In his second season with the team, the coach admitted that this was one of the hardest seasons of his life.
“This has been one of the most difficult seasons I have ever experienced. And I know this is also true for many of our players and staff who have supported us throughout. Maintaining our focus on the field and building overall confidence. The safety and well-being of my players amid all the outside noise is my number one priority,” Kress said.
SJSU transgender volleyball scandal: Timeline of allegations political impact and a fierce cultural movement
Kress was named in a lawsuit filed by team captain Brooke Slusser and several other Mountain West players against the conference and San Jose State. The lawsuit alleges that Kress communicated with his personal attorney as part of his effort to remove Slusser from the team and told others that he had filed a Title IX complaint against Slusser independently of the complaint. Comments that Slusser has made in practice But it is the communications that Slusser has made, to the media and in the public forum, about her beliefs.
Slusser also alleged that the university threatened to strip her of her scholarship over team-sharing discussions. locker room and the bedroom with transgender teammate Blaire Fleming.
Still, Kress thanked Slusser in his statement Saturday, along with Fleming and the other seniors on the team.
“Our team played hard today. Just like they have done all season. I want to recognize and thank our seniors — Alessia (Buffagne), Chandler (Manuski), Brook (Bryant), Brook and Bae. lar — for their great efforts. Court throughout the season They helped us get to where we are,” Kress wrote.
Kress also thanked San Jose University Police Chief Michael Carroll. for his work protecting the team from potential threats this season.
A San Jose State spokesperson previously confirmed to Fox News Digital that the program did not officially notify opponents by deadline of the situation involving Fleming and Slusser before a game this season after Slusser first joined the lawsuit. with the NCAA in September regarding her Presence of transgender teammates
However, the spokesperson also confirmed that the university coordinates police protection for players with schools hosting the team’s away matches. After security measures had to be raised due to the team’s attention
when Southern Utah became the first program to announce it would lose a game against the Spartans in early September. That was the first indication of increased security. That’s when the college brought in armed security.
Inside San Jose State Police’s Fight to Protect Female Athletes Harassed in Transgender Culture War
A San Jose State University spokesperson confirmed to Fox News Digital that the volleyball team has been notified that additional security will be provided. After the opposing program forfeited its first loss as news of Slusser’s lawsuit spread.
Shortly after the first confiscation The university’s internal police department was also notified of the situation and became involved. After that, police were assigned to protect every game. and other campus police departments. Tasked with protecting the team when traveling.
The police presence was noticeably strong in the Spartans’ first meeting with eventual conference champion Colorado State 3. That night, several officers were photographed on the field. By keeping an eye on the stands, entrances and players.
Colorado State University Police Behind Moby Arena, a San Jose State University Spartans bench attendant during a volleyball game between the Spartans and Colorado State Rams in Fort Collins, Colo., October 2019 Nov 3, 2024 (Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)
Slusser previously told Fox News Digital that she was warned by teammates on Oct. 1, two nights before the race, to “stay away” during the race because “bad things” would happen. with you
San Jose State University responded to questions about whether federal investigators were involved.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“The university asks students and staff to share all communications with UPD so that they can be appropriately evaluated and resolved. including with appropriate agencies as appropriate,” San Jose State said in an earlier statement.
And Kress was tasked with coaching his team through it all. Kress wasn’t the coach who recruited Fleming to SJSU, it was former head coach Trent Kirsten, who left the program after Fleming’s first season in San Jose. State in 2022
The lawsuit, which also includes former Spartan assistant coach Melissa Batie-Smoose, alleges that Kersten recruited Fleming knowing the player was transgender. But didn’t tell the other players.
Kress takes over the program in 2023 and expressed her dissatisfaction with Kersten’s decision in an interview. with Outkick–
San Jose State University Spartans head coach Todd Kress talks to reporters after a loss to the Colorado State University Rams in Fort Collins, Colo. On Oct. 3 Nov. 2024 (Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)
“My frustration with Trent is this unfortunate situation,” Kress said. “Obviously (Kirsten) knows Blair is being targeted in this debate. “But he hasn’t even contacted (Fleming) once to check on his (Fleming’s) mental health. I find that really sad.”
Earlier, Kress said tensions in the locker room due to having Fleming on the team and Slusser’s lawsuit “may not be a bad thing.”
“Sometimes tension isn’t necessarily a bad thing. And I’m not saying it exists, but you know, when you have tension or confrontation, I mean, I’m someone who believes that from confrontation, good things tend to happen. We deal with our differences. And we will get through this,” Kress told reporters 3 after Colorado State’s first contest.
“The last thing we want is a white elephant in the room with no tension, we don’t deal with it and we never get over it, right? I thought there might be some tension but it died down. If we are in a conference room It will die there. If there is tension in the court It will die there.
The Spartans’ rivalry is now over. The players made it through unharmed. But the lawsuit continues.
Follow Fox News Digital’s Sports coverage on– and apply for membership Fox News Sports Huddle Newsletter–
