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Boston Globe
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
‘I needed to escape my coach': A second Boston University women's soccer coach faced complaints, then resigned
Four days later, Shayla Brown went further, sharing details with the team's sports psychologist. The coach, she said, was acting inappropriately toward one of BU's key players, focusing excessively on her and trying to manipulate her in ways that were distressing to the player and her teammates. Related : This was not a case of a coach coddling a prized player, Shayla Brown said. Her teammate was 'being groomed,' she told the psychologist. The next day, Shayla Brown and 17 other BU women's soccer players reported similar allegations to BU's Equal Opportunity Office. Before long, their teammate who was allegedly targeted shared her experience with school officials, as well. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Casey Brown, in a statement to the Globe, strongly denied the allegations. Advertisement The key player told the university then — and the Globe recently — that her coach fawned over her for more than two years in ways that felt relentless and wrong. She recalled navigating a stream of awkward texts, unsettling invitations, and unwanted attention. The player, who remains on the team, asked not to be identified. She said she is concerned about retaliation and her emotional health. Casey Brown, 37, was placed on leave midseason. A former BU star, Brown had played and served as an assistant coach under Nancy Feldman, who resigned in 2022 after guiding the Terriers to 14 NCAA Tournaments in 27 years at the helm. Advertisement Earlier this month, a popular podcaster, Alex Cooper, Casey Brown officially resigned in December after BU commissioned an investigation into complaints from the soccer players. The allegations and inquiry have not been previously reported. Both BU and Casey Brown said the investigation, by former federal civil rights attorney Philip Catanzano, found no misconduct by the coach. 'At the conclusion of the investigation, there were no BU policy violations and no evidence of sexual harassment,' BU said in a statement. 'Nevertheless, BU and Brown parted ways, and Brown is no longer the head coach.' Brown, who previously served as the head coach at Penn and Holy Cross, declined to be interviewed. Her statement said, 'I got into coaching to help student-athletes become the best version of themselves, on and off the field.' Brown said she has been committed in every way to helping her players and teams thrive. Related : 'I firmly object to the attack on my character and the way my conduct has been portrayed,' she said. 'The examples used against me are selective, out of context, and open to interpretation, yet they're being presented as fact. I reject that and I question why, despite a clear investigative outcome, these claims are still being amplified. 'I stand by my record and the values that shape my work as a coach.' Brown declined through her attorney, Christine Brown, of Christine Brown & Partners, to elaborate on why she resigned. Advertisement Investigative findings not shared BU, a private institution, said the investigative report will not be shared with the public. Members of the 2024 team said athletic director Drew Marrochello indicated the university negotiated the terms of Brown's resignation, but did not share the investigative findings, citing privacy laws. Now Feldman and Brown are both back in the news, along with questions about BU's handling of the complaints. Cooper said she never heard from the university again after she formally alleged sexual harassment to the administration. BU issued a statement about Cooper's allegation, saying the university 'has a zero-tolerance policy for sexual harassment.' 'We have a robust system of resources, support, and staff dedicated to student well-being and a thorough reporting process through our Equal Opportunity Office,' the statement said. 'We remain committed to fostering a safe and secure campus environment for all.' 'Casey, help me,' Cooper recalled pleading to Brown in Feldman's office. Brown turned away, Cooper said, 'and did nothing about it.' Brown said in a statement to the Globe that she had 'no recollection' of the incident. 'But let me be absolutely clear: I would never ignore, dismiss or turn away from anyone — a player, a teammate, a friend, a family member — who sought my help in any capacity,' Brown stated. 'The suggestion that I would do otherwise is completely false.' Brown's declaration rang hollow to many of her former players. Four of the nearly 20 members of the 2024 team who registered complaints with BU about Brown's behavior told the Globe that she caused them or their teammates to seek mental health care. Related : Advertisement Nearly a decade after BU stood by Feldman amid Cooper's allegations, Brown's former players asserted that the university effectively protected Brown by permitting her to resign without notifying the public about the circumstances surrounding her departure. Brown has not coached since leaving BU. Brown's expressions of admiration or fondness for the player appeared evident among hundreds of text messages between the coach and player reviewed by the Globe. 'Love you always!' Brown texted. 'My dawgggg . . . Appreciate you always,' Brown said in another text. When the player pushed back over various issues, Brown tried to appease her, once texting, 'I feel like ur annoyed w me in general [sad face emoji] . . . sorry if I pissed you off.' 'I felt deeply uncomfortable and sexualized' When BU hired Brown in 2022, she seemed like a natural fit, given her experience as a four-time all-conference player for the Terriers from 2006-09 and as an assistant coach under Feldman. A former star at Natick High, Brown guided BU in her first year at the helm to an 11-8-1 record. One of the freshmen on her team would become the alleged object of her attention. Brown's focus on the player allegedly intensified in 2023. Three of her teammates said they had grown accustomed to coaches at all levels favoring certain players, but some said they were disturbed by what they described as Brown's persistent focus on this one team member. The player became increasingly isolated, they said, and team chemistry suffered. Camryn O'Connor, a senior from Easton and a close friend of the player, was among those who formally complained. O'Connor, who played three years for BU before stepping away after multiple concussions, recalled watching her friend's emotional health spiral downward. Advertisement 'Initially, she shared details about the troubling situation but then retreated into silence, her demeanor changing, as well,' O'Connor said. 'The once-sociable young woman became withdrawn from her relationships with friends and teammates.' The young woman said she was especially troubled by an incident in which Brown sent her a video clip of her competing in a game. The video featured her passing, moving, and shooting — 'nothing out of the ordinary,' she said — with Brown narrating over the footage. To her shock, she said, Brown made moaning sounds during her commentary. 'I felt deeply uncomfortable and sexualized,' she said. The player said she felt compelled at times to lie to Brown to avoid her. 'The truth was, I needed to escape my coach,' she wrote to the Globe. 'But saying 'no' felt impossible, as she held authority over every aspect of my life — soccer, academics, scholarship, housing, meal plans, even an opportunity to play [overseas].' As suspicions escalated about the coach's relationship with the player, a schism widened among teammates. 'Unconsciously, I began to distance myself from my teammates, and they, in turn, distanced themselves from me,' the player said. 'I later realized they feared I might report their frustrations or criticisms to our head coach. This dynamic created an atmosphere of tension and distrust, further isolating me from the people I relied on most.' In October, Brown was placed on leave. In December, BU posted a three-paragraph notice on its athletics website that Brown 'will be stepping down from her position.' Advertisement The notice made no mention of the complaints, instead listing Brown's accomplishments at BU. A separate message from Marrochello to BU's women's soccer alumni struck a more upbeat tone. He wrote, 'We wish Casey the best in her future endeavors.' Outrage ensued among members of the team. Players accused BU of caring more about its reputation than protecting student-athletes. 'In my opinion, the athletic department is as culpable as Casey Brown; they are the origin point of her abuse at Boston University and gave her the platform to do so by hiring her,' said Natalie Godoy, a senior forward from Connecticut. 'They then continued their negligence by failing to handle the situation efficiently and effectively.' University administration called 'cowardly' In a 45-minute meeting with Marrochello on the day Brown resigned, players lashed out, asserting that BU enabled Brown by allowing her to depart with her reputation intact, according to multiple participants. Players said they asked Marrochello if he believed he did everything he could to prevent Brown from repeating her alleged behavior at another school. 'This team deserves justice, which at minimum would be for the true narrative to be told,' Shayla Brown told the Globe. One player at the meeting called the administration's handling of the matter 'cowardly.' Another told Marrochello, 'Casey Brown is looking for a new job as you're looking for a new coach. That should make you sick to your stomach.' Marrochello acknowledged during the meeting that team members endured a 'tumultuous' and 'brutally tough year,' participants said. He told them the university handled the matter as well as possible and was constrained by privacy laws from saying more. 'I would not say I'm protecting her,' he was quoted as saying. He also expressed his commitment to student safety. BU said in its statement for this story: 'In recent weeks, the BU Equal Opportunity Office has reached out to every BU athlete to review resources, support, and reporting processes. While we have received some questions and comments from this outreach, we have no current reports of concerns to address or investigate.' It turned out that the Terriers fared well after Brown was placed on leave. They started the season 2-7-4 under her leadership, then went unbeaten in six straight games, capturing the Patriot League title and qualifying for the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018. In January, Brown was officially replaced by one of her assistants, Megan Burke, who had coached the Terriers after Brown was placed on leave. A team that once seemed fractured now seems unified. Bob Hohler can be reached at
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Yahoo
BU responds to sexual harassment allegations made by Alex Cooper
Days after the 'Call Her Daddy' podcast host, Alex Cooper, alleged she was sexually harassed by her soccer coach while at Boston University, the school has issued a response. The University issued the following statement: Boston University has a zero-tolerance policy for sexual harassment. We have a robust system of resources, support, and staff dedicated to student wellbeing and a thorough reporting process through our Equal Opportunity Office. We encourage members of our community to report any concerns, and we remain committed to fostering a safe and secure campus environment for all. This comes following the first episode of Cooper's Hulu Documentary, 'Call Her Alex', where she said that ex-coach Nancy Feldman had become fixated on her and engaged in uncomfortable, and sometimes sexual, conversations both in private and in front of teammates. Cooper said that she went to the school with her claims and was listened to, but was brushed off. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
USA Today
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Boston University responds to 'Call Her Daddy' host Alex Cooper's harassment claims
Boston University responds to 'Call Her Daddy' host Alex Cooper's harassment claims Show Caption Hide Caption Pharrell, Alex Cooper tell us what they would win a gold medal for in life The 'Prelude To The Olympics' event at Fondation Louis Vuitton featured a star-studded red carpet with the likes of LeBron James and more. Boston University is breaking its silence after famed podcaster Alex Cooper alleged sexual harassment at the hands of her soccer coach while she was a student there. The "Call Her Daddy" host said in a new documentary that she was harassed by head soccer coach Nancy Feldman while playing for the university team in 2014. Feldman was intrusive about her sex life, Cooper alleged, and when she reported it to the university, nothing was done. "Boston University has a zero-tolerance policy for sexual harassment. We have a robust system of resources, support and staff dedicated to student wellbeing and a thorough reporting process through our Equal Opportunity Office," the college wrote in a statement to People Thursday, June 12. 'Call Her Daddy' host Alex Cooper recalls 'psychotic game' of sexual harassment "We encourage members of our community to report any concerns, and we remain committed to fostering a safe and secure campus environment for all," the statement concluded. Adding to the claims she made in the docuseries, "Call Her Alex," Cooper took to Instagram June 12, blasting both Feldman and the university administration for a culture of complicity. "Nancy Feldman was someone I trusted. Someone I believed in. Someone who was supposed to help me grow. Someone who was supposed to protect me. But instead she made my life a living hell and abused her power over me," Cooper wrote. "She stripped me of my identity and took away what I had worked my entire life for because she didn't control herself. This defined my life for a decade and impacted her life 0%," she continued. "I reported the abuse to the athletic director, Drew Marrochello, and I was turned away and ignored. There was no accountability, no investigation, and no justice. "So when I found out the harassment and abuse was STILL happening on that campus today - 10 years later by Nancy Feldman's successor and my former assistant coach, I knew I needed to share my story," Cooper added. "When I was 18 years old, dismissed and ignored by Boston University, I prayed and wished someone with a voice would have held my hand and helped me through the darkest time in my life. Daddy Gang, I got you. Stay tuned." Boston University has not respond to USA TODAY's request for comment. Feldman could not be reached, and the documentary, directed by Ry Russo-Young, does not include a statement from the university or its former coach. No charges were ever filed. (Feldman retired from BU in 2022.) Cooper's post comes on the heels of a round of revelations that shocked fans. For someone whose very brand is that nothing is off limits, the new docuseries, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, offered a rare glimpse at the parts she keeps private – including her story of abuse. In "Call Her Alex," the new media darling told interviewers that during her sophomore year, she noticed Feldman "really starting to fixate on me, way more than any other teammate of mine. And it was confusing." "It was all based in her wanting to know who I was dating, her making comments about my body and her always wanting to be alone with me," she added, "It was this psychotic game of, 'You want to play? Tell me about your sex life,'… 'I have to drive you to your night class. Get in the car with me alone.'" Contributing: Erin Jensen
