San Jose State University women athletes spoke out against Scott Shaw, their athletic coach, over a decade ago — he was just fined this week.
Shaw pleaded guilty to sexual assault in court Tuesday and faces two years in prison.
The first complaint against Shaw came from swimmer Caitlin Macky back in 2009. Sixteen others reported him to the school that year, but they acquitted him of any wrongdoing.
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A general view of the competition pool during the Division III Women's Swimming & Diving Championships at the Greensboro Aquatic Center on March 18, 2023 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Mike Comer/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
“It's a bit insane going through a whole trial, and for 12 years this person has been in vehement denial, and then all of a sudden he comes up and admits it,” said Macky, who testified at Shaw's trial The Mercury News. “Everyone has been calling us liars for so long.
“It actually feels better that it's out there and it's public knowledge.”
“Hearing him plead guilty to what he did justifies to me that what he did was not normal and yes, I should have trusted my gut,” added former gymnast Amy LeClair , who graduated in 2016.
Shaw worked at school from 2006 to 2020 and claimed his treatments were legitimate. He was accused of personally dismissing complaints on the grounds that he was the expert.
From right: Linzy Warkentin, Kirsten Trammell and Caitlin Macky were sexually abused by their athletic coach at San Jose State University a decade ago. The three are photographed on December 13, 2021 at Palm Canyon in Balboa Park in San Diego, California. (Jay Calderon/The Desert Sun/USA TODAY NETWORK)
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According to USA Today, eight former athletes from five women's sports participated as witnesses during the trial. The case led to a mistrial earlier this month.
Athletes said Shaw touched and rubbed her breasts, buttocks, and groin. Thirty women have applied and the school has awarded them a total of $7 million.
The case was reopened in 2019 and an outside law firm concluded that Shaw had violated school policy Sexual Harassment Policy and that the school itself violated Title IX by failing to respond to the original claims.
“Those harmed by the actions of Scott Shaw have shouldered a burden for years, patiently awaiting their day in court,” the university said in a statement Tuesday. “We hope that you feel somewhat confirmed in this result. The university is committed to preventing sexual misconduct and will be vigilant in protecting our campus community.”
NCAA banners hang prior to the start of the Division I Men's Swimming and Diving Championships taking place March 24, 2023 at the Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Carlos Gonzalez/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
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Shaw will be sentenced on November 14th. Victims are expected to read the consequences statements there.
