Ohio State Coaches Fired for Allegedly Harassing Male, Female Cheerleaders

Two Ohio State cheerleading coaches have been fired for allegedly sexually harassing male and female cheerleaders.

According to the Columbus Dispatch, assistant coaches Eddie Hollins and Dana Bumbrey were fired in May after Hollins allegedly sexually harassed males on the team while Bumbrey allegedly harassed female cheerleaders”:

Cheerleaders told investigators that Hollins made sexual jokes and sometimes slapped male students on the butt or tapped their testicles. 

They also said Bumbrey made inappropriate remarks to the female cheerleaders, including using the nickname “Fornicate” for one of them. He regularly commented on the size of the women’s bottoms, they said, and made remarks such as “she always has her legs spread” when women were in compromising positions during routines. 

Hollins told investigators that he took male cheerleaders to the gym at the Athletic Club in Downtown Columbus and showered in front of them on a few occasions. Investigators said Hollins had been investigated in 2006 because of similar allegations and should have known better. 

Hollins, who claimed the coaches “were just playing,” reportedly “told investigators that he took male cheerleaders to the gym at the Athletic Club in Downtown Columbus and showered in front of them on a few occasions. Investigators said Hollins had been investigated in 2006 because of similar allegations and should have known better.”

One male cheerleader, Cody Ellis, “was removed from the team after he complained last school year that Hollins had sent him several sexually explicit text messages” after “Ellis confided in Hollins that he is gay”:

In one of the messages, Hollins wrote that he can’t wait to see Ellis’ “hot” rear end, according to records requested by The Dispatch. In another, he referred to taking over for Ellis’ boyfriend in a sex act. 

The head cheerleading coaches reportedly had to go attend sexual-harassment awareness worships while Ellis has alleged he was retaliated against for reporting the alleged acts of harassments.