However, Bodeau said she went on to tell him the whole story. Not saying Jason Gesser should be WSU's head coach at this point in his life, but those numbers are phenomenal. The next morning, Wold said she called her sister to talk about what had happened with Gesser the night before. Gesser saw little playing time behind a healthy Germaine in 2007, completing two of three passes for 28 yards and a touchdown. Gesser replaces Shawn McWashington, himself part of the iconic Fab Five receivers from the breakthrough 1997 Rose Bowl team. He is also minoring in criminal Dylan Greene is a journalism and media production major from Stanwood. Almond said in his interviewwith OEO that he felt the need to come forward with his worries to IMG HR after hearing about the alleged relationship with a student-athlete, according to the records. "I'm trying to think of how I can help support these girls to find their voice," she says. In 2007, he was offensive coordinator at Parkland's Franklin Pierce High School. If Gesser or another university official engages in sexual activity with a student, it would present a problem for WSU, Weiler said. Get breaking news delivered to your inbox as it happens. CougEd Hall Of Fame. She thinks of the college she loves. A donor requested permission to bring a former WSU womens basketball player from California who was staying with them to the event, which Ganders said he approved, according to the records. The message said something to the effect of dont be a stranger, Wold said. Gesser was signed by the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent in April 2003. She called me and was pretty distraught, I could definitely tell she was emotional, Roberts said. It was devastating. It made me avoid Pullman. You have to have full commitment from the family as Leach did when he asked his wife if she would rather have him happy and poor, coaching, or miserable and money, law. One of the fall highlights for Gesser was going to a sports bar to watch the Cougars beat the Huskies, 28-25, in the Apple Cup, halting the streak of six consecutive Washington wins in the series. I had no idea how to feel, I felt like it was my fault, he had made me feel like it was my fault. When she was received the text, she was at her now-husbands house in Spokane and said the two had only been dating for a couple of weeks at the time. While Gesser provided the statement the day he resigned, he did not cooperate with the WSU investigation. Ganders, a regional director for the CAF at the time, and Gesser attended the event. But they said, 'We feel we want to have a comfort level of someone who has played.' WSU investigating university official after sexual assault allegations But I dont, because I dont want to run into him, I dont want to hear his voice and I dont want to hear his name, she said. Wold said the recent revelations about allegations against Gesser made her come forward. Bodeau married Steven Bodeau, 28, in 2017. Learn How rich is He in this year and how He spends money? WSU places Jason Gesser on leave after former nanny files formal The earliest OEO interview notes obtained as part of the records request are dated in early January. But, Im excited for that day., According to the findings provided by Bodeau, WSU investigators ruled that Gessers actions met the definition of sexual harassment and non-consensual sexual contact that impacted the Complainant emotionally, created a lack of personal security for her, and created a hostile and offensive environment.. She's troubled by reports that WSU football legend Jack Thompson told WSU employees to "fall in line," chiding WSU employees who reported rumors about Gesser that made it to President Schulz. "It was good to reverse the curse. Almond said he spoke with Schulz, according to the records. Gesser led WSU to two straight 10 win seasons from 2001-2002, and finished seventh in the 2002 Heisman Trophy race. I immediately recognized that Jason and [former player] knew each other, were classmates, Ganders told investigators. Gesser and his wife, former WSU volleyball player Kali Surplus, and their 17-month-old daughter, Jordyn, have stayed in Tennessee but a move to the Tacoma area is planned for mid-January. Bodeau said she allowed Gesser into her apartment. It might just take a little bit for me to feel comfortable. After the incident, she then drove him back to his hotel room, she said. Almond said he met with Schulz last December to discuss the issues, a meeting which has been confirmed by the Evergreen. Wold played volleyball for the Cougars from 2012-2013 before foregoing her senior season due to injuries. ". And the fallout of that investigation doesn't sit well with Bodeau. Updated Tue., Sept. 18, 2018 at 8:06 a.m. Former WSU QB Jason Gesser (Dan Pelle / The Spokesman-Review). Another alleged incident came in 2014 after a donor event in Pasco, Washington. Gesser, who was assistant athletic director at WSU, resigned last week in light of the multiple allegations of sexual misconduct. Gesser said he still keeps in touch with coach Mike Price and his two assistant-coach sons, Eric and Aaron, who have had a remarkable 8-3 season at Texas-El Paso. I absolutely felt powerless., He said, Everything is OK. That both confused and terrified me, she said. If no one is willing to come forward, the investigation goes as far as it can.. I decided to not contact them at all for fear of running into him or for fear that I did something wrong.. It could show people in the future that this is a safe, supportive space to bring these things.. Associate Director of Athletics Bill Stevens said Gesser and Director of Athletics Patrick Chun would not comment on the story, citing WSUs policy against commenting on personnel matters. Im not sure why that would be a problem., OEO also interviewed a former athletics department employee who has since left WSU, who told investigators Gesser made comments and advances on her but noted she never felt harassed or assaulted.. Ganders said this situation made him realize Gessers actions had negatively impacted a donors relationship with WSU, according to the records. WSU has. According to the updated WSU report, he never sat down with investigators to give his side of the story. Who Is Jason Gesser's Wife? She expected a media. "And these girls are just afraid to come forward.". He and fellow ex-Cougar Ryan Leaf both campaigned for the position of quarterbacks coach at WSU when it became available after the 2007 season. I would imagine it was the start of the investigation, Weiler said of when Schulz was informed of the situation. ", If nothing develops, he said, "then I'll probably go into coaching because I want to be a college coach.". "It's started showing me there's a bigger picture to this," she says. In February 2012, Gesser was promoted to offensive coordinator of the Vandals, assisted on offense by another former WSU coach, Mike Levenseller, who was the receivers coach and passing game coordinator. Farkas also told investigators the department held some concerns over Gessers decision to invite the woman to the event. In August, IMG and WSU announced that Gesser would not resume his role as a radio analyst for WSU football games to allow him to focus on his role with the CAF. Shortly after, she began to babysit for the family. Gesser says his ultimate goal is coaching at the college level, preferably at Washington State. She also said she had heard of these things happening before her employment at WSU. A former football coach at the. "I was playing good. The allegations portray a pattern of behavior, beginning with meeting women overnight while on the road with the CAF and culminating in allegations of sexual relations and advances on student interns as recently as 2017. Multiple advances made on both student interns and coworkers, including allegations of sexual relations and attempting to kiss a co-worker after having dinner with a donor, as recently as 2017. He is from United States. After going winless in four starts, he was replaced by Andy Kelly. EP 15 prohibits discrimination, sexual harassment and sexual misconduct and applies to all students, faculty, staff and anyone associated with the university, according to the OEO website. Wold said she moved to the Olympia area following her time at WSU after receiving an offer for a volleyball coaching position at St. Martins University in Lacey, Washington. Wilson Criscione is the Inlanders news editor. At the time, I said, I wanted to let you know about our current HR issues, he told investigators. He aggressively came into his office, accused me of ruining his life, his marriage and his kids lives.. "It will be good to get back up in Washington," he said. Kali has landed a sales job with a pharmaceutical company. Idaho's head coach Robb Akey was the defensive line coach at WSU during Gesser's playing days for the Cougars. They were only a couple blocks away from her house at the time and she said the move confused her. He also said she told him how excited she was to attend the event, but how the night quickly turned sour. When asked for her thoughts about this, Bodeau struggles to find the words. He asked, Why? I said, Because you are a married man and you have a family.. Gesser said he plans to continue pursuing his dream of playing professional football "for the next two to three years and see what happens. One possibility is that an NFL team would sign Gesser, then ship him off to play in Europe this spring. Making the decision to speak out, she can't overemphasize, was "not the easy route." Copyright 2023, The Spokesman-Review | Community Guidelines | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy, interaction with her following a fundraiser in Tumwater in 2015, Spokane Valley Fire roundup: Multiple engines, water tenders fight rural home blaze in Otis Orchards, Downtown Spokane stadium groundbreaking set for Tuesday , Pandemic project: Dental lab owner Robert Carnell paints pop art abstracts of celebrities , Gardening: Bird feeders safe to hang this winter after salmonella epidemic in 2020 , Pandemic projects: Retired Freeman High School teacher self-publishes Welsh mystery series , Man who spent 10 years in prison in 2012 murder back in jail on suspicion of attacking women, Spokane Valley Fire asking for fire tax renewal: 'We're more than just a fire department', Getting There: Emergency closure of crumbling Magnolia Street pedestrian bridge frustrates some, Washington Legislature weighs changes to police pursuit after law enforcement criticism. "She's sad that this is going on and has been going on for so long," he says. Bill Moos, my athletic director, was going to be there, she said. After this, Wold said Gesser moved to the couch, where he then tried to get Wold to sit with him. She had been asked by Kali Gesser, Jasons wife and part of the Cougar volleyball coaching staff at the time, and ended up taking care of their three kids three times a week, through which she met Jason. Investigators also attempted to interview (Gesser) and (former Athletic Director) Mr. William Bill Moos, who was present at the CAF event in 2015, investigators wrote. I couldnt pull away, so I put my hand in front of his mouth to try to stop him, she said It didnt stop him. Jason Gesser Profiles | Facebook She did convey that the flirty text message occurred when she was a student and interning with [IMG].. It was after that fundraiser when Gesser allegedly tried to force himself on her. During his career, he appeared in 40 games, made 35 starts, led the Pac-10 in passing yards as junior, was the first Cougar to throw for 3,000 yards twice and led WSU to a 2001 Sun Bowl victory and to the 2003 Rose Bowl. Almond told investigators he met with Schulz. Washington State University placed Jason Gesser, a former quarterback and current athletic department employee, on administrative leave Monday after a former Cougar athlete alleged Gesser. (None of those named above have responded to messages from the Inlander seeking comment.). she asks.