On Sunday, University of Texas Regents ordered a review of policies regarding “inappropriate relationships between employees and students” after Texas assistant football coach Major Applewhite revealed that he had cheated on his wife–who was reportedly pregnant at the time–four years ago with a student.
Applewhite, who will call plays for Texas this season and may be the football team’s next head coach, said he contacted university officials “shortly after it occurred,” was “upfront” and “took full responsibility for my actions” at the 2009 Fiesta Bowl. Applewhite’s pay was frozen for a year after the incident. He was warned that another such incident would bring more serious disciplinary action.
“It was a one-time occurrence and was a personal matter,” Applewhite said in a statement this weekend. “This is and was resolved by the university four years ago. Through counseling, I have worked with my wife and the incident is behind us.”
Revelations of Applewhite’s incident came to light less than a month after another Texas coach resigned after admitting to a consensual relationship with a player a decade ago.
As Breitbart Sports wrote, Bev Kearney, the track coach for Texas, resigned after admitting she had a “consensual intimate relationship” with one of her student-athletes a decade ago.
The difference, based on the information that is public, is that Kearney’s relationship occurred with a player whom she supervised. Applewhite’s “one-time occurrence” was with a student he did not supervise.
Regents chairman Gene Powell Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa said the “safety and welfare of the students on our 15 campuses” will always be their chief concern.
“The No. 1 priority of all UT administration leaders, faculty, staff and athletic personnel should be protecting our students and ensuring that their experience at any UT institution is a positive and safe one,” they said in a joint statement.
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.