New Mexico has suspended football coach Bob Davie for 30 days after an outside law firm investigated multiple incidents of criminal misconduct by his players.
The law firm could not prove that Davie, the former Notre Dame coach, and his staff obstructed justice during the investigations into three incidents, but recommended “strong action” to ensure the university does a better job combating “sexual harassment, sexual assault, physical abuse or other prohibited misconduct against its students” and greater oversight of the athletic program, .
According to the report from Hogan Marren Babbo & Rose, witnesses told retired federal judge Bruce Black in a previous investigation that Davie had held a team meeting and told players to “get some dirt on this whore” after a woman accused one of the players of rape. The law firm could not confirm that Davie said this, and also did not interview Davie during its investigation.
The firm did report that Davie met with a university police officer and one of his players. The player showed a video of the accuser making comments about breaking up with a person whom she was not accusing of rape to the cop. Davie argued the video provided evidence that undermined her credibility, and continued to defend the player to the officer, the firm reported.
The accuser also spoke to a student advocate and said football players were talking about the case and saying Davie “was going to take care of it.”
The exact dates of the incidents involving Davie’s players were unknown.
Davie has been the coach at New Mexico since 2012. He coached at Notre Dame from 1997-2001 before spending a decade in the broadcast booth for ESPN and ABC.
The Journal reported the New Mexico Attorney General’s office had already started an investigation into issues with the school’s athletic department and would expand the investigation following the law firm’s report.
“We will never tolerate a university culture that denies students their basic rights through illegal discrimination or retaliation against those who report sexual misconduct,” Attorney General Hector Balderas said. “Our criminal and civil investigation into the University of New Mexico includes the handling of these issues and we are reviewing the actions of officials from top to bottom and any other organizations involved.”
The university announced the suspension a day after National Signing Day, though the report on the law firm’s investigation into Davie’s behavior was reportedly released in mid-January.