3 days ago
Boston University soccer coach Casey Brown resigns following sexual harassment allegations from student-athlete
Image via Boston University Athletics (Image of assistant coach Casey Brown)
Boston University is facing renewed scrutiny after a second former student-athlete has come forward with serious allegations of misconduct within its storied women's soccer program.
Shayla Brown, a senior midfielder, has accused assistant coach Casey Brown of inappropriate behavior toward a teammate—just months after Call Her Daddy host Alex Cooper publicly shared her own disturbing experience with former head coach Nancy Feldman.
Brown's account, initially reported through Boston University's ethics hotline in September 2024 and later corroborated by other team members, paints a troubling picture of a coach-athlete dynamic that may have crossed professional boundaries.
The university placed Casey Brown on administrative leave during the investigation; she resigned in December. These developments follow Alex Cooper's viral revelations, which ignited a broader conversation about athlete welfare and institutional accountability.
As BU attempts to reckon with its past, growing public attention places pressure on the university to uphold its stated values of safety, equity, and transparency.
Fresh Harassment Claim Hits Boston University Soccer as Alex Cooper's Allegations Resonate
Boston University responds to Alex Cooper's allegations
Shayla Brown first approached BU's confidential ethics hotline on September 14, 2024, concerned about an assistant coach's behavior that felt invasive and manipulative. Four days later, she shared her distress with the team's sports psychologist, describing how Casey Brown's attention toward a key player felt like systematic grooming over two years . Brown, along with 17 others, then reported similar experiences to the Equal Opportunity Office.
The student-athlete at the center of the allegations spoke of 'unsettling invitations,' persistent texts, and a sense of relentless fixation—prompting BU to place Casey Brown on administrative leave midseason. In December 2024, Casey resigned. BU declared no policy violations were found after investigation, though the resignation stood.
Just weeks earlier, Alex Cooper had recounted her own experience with former head coach Nancy Feldman: comments about her body, invasive questions, even physical contact—all ignored by officials at the time.
Cooper's story, first revealed in her Hulu docuseries and accompanied by social media outcry, set in motion a broader reckoning at BU. BU furnished a statement affirming its 'zero‑tolerance policy' and said it encourages members to report concerns.
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These revelations arrive at a moment when the sports world is undergoing profound shifts. From the Yates Report in the NWSL to #MeToo-era reckonings, the spotlight on coach-athlete power imbalances has intensified. BU's actions now resonate beyond its campus, reflecting a universal challenge: how to nurture environments of trust and accountability while facing allegations that cut at the very foundations of mentorship and guidance.
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