San Jose State University (SJSU) suspended a volleyball coach Saturday for speaking out against a biologically male, transgender athlete on the school’s women’s volleyball team. The volleyball coach argued that the athlete’s presence on the team diluted women’s opportunities in violation of Title IX.
The university’s action was criticized by a former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Education, Adam Kissel, who noted that “Retaliation for filing a Title IX complaint is a Title IX violation.”
Associate volleyball head coach Melissa Batie-Smoose was suspended indefinitely after sharing her concerns about Blaire Fleming, a transgender athlete on the team, according to Outkick. (RELATED: Green Party VP Nominee Takes Shockingly Conservative Position On Hot-Button Issue)
“The associate head coach of the San Jose State University women’s volleyball team is not with the team at this time, and we will not provide further information on this matter,” SJSU told Outkick.
Batie-Smoose told Outkick she “was met by administration, who asked me to step outside [and speak privately]” and was informed of her suspension. She was reportedly not allowed to gather her items and told to not speak to the media.
“This is just another form of what San Jose State has been trying to do – silence people that are speaking up for their First Amendment rights and for what’s right,” Batie-Smoose told the outlet.
Batie-Smoose also filed a Title IX complaint Tuesday against SJSU alleging the school showed favoritism to Fleming, according to Quillette.
A lawyer advised Head Coach Todd Kress that female athlete Brooke Slusser could lose her scholarship, be stripped of her captaincy, and be thrown off the team for speaking against having a male player on her team. This was revealed in a 30-plus-page complaint filed by Associate… pic.twitter.com/3sbWyji2Gx
— Irene BritUSA (@irenebritusa) November 2, 2024
She said it was her “understanding” that none of the players on the team knew that “Fleming’s natal sex is male, or that there was any player with a male birth sex on the team,” the outlet reported.
Yesterday, the SJSU assistant women’s volleyball coach filed a Title IX complaint against her university for allowing a man to play on the women’s team.
Today, she was suspended, effective immediately.
This is how they get people to comply—through force.https://t.co/DwouoXSYjI
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) November 2, 2024
“What stood out was spiking the [ball] and blocking on the front row, due to Fleming’s leaping ability and hitting power, which far exceeded that of any player in the [Mountain West] Conference,” she continued.
Students at Boise State University, Southern Utah University, the University of Nevada Reno, Utah State University and the University of Wyoming all forfeited matches against SJSU, according to the outlet.
The University of Nevada Reno women’s volleyball team in particular demanded that their “right to safety and fair competition on the court be upheld” and declared they would “refuse to participate in any match which advances injustice against female athletes,” Outkick reported.
The student athletes at the University of Nevada, Reno have determined that they do not want to play against San Jose State, and I wholeheartedly respect the decision of the players.
No student athlete should ever be pressured to play a game where they don’t feel safe — period. pic.twitter.com/YuDtq8eAcV
— Governor Joe Lombardo (@JosephMLombardo) October 15, 2024
The University of Nevada Reno and Utah State University also held a match Tuesday for which the Riley Gaines Center at the Leadership Institute handed out wristbands and t-shirts reading “BOYcott,” according to Fox 13.
Kera Birkeland, a member of the Utah House of Representatives who sponsored legislation in 2022 to protect women’s sports, also shared the shirts to X (formerly known as Twitter).
Huge shoutout to @Riley_Gaines_
She heard I was looking for these shirts and sent 100!! 💙I’ll be handing them out at the upcoming USU vs Neveda game.
Both teams have heard we’re coming and are thrilled for the support, and wearing these shirts will make a significant… pic.twitter.com/og6B3YgMgz
— KeraBirk (@KeraBirk) October 24, 2024
During a Saturday rally in Salem, Virginia, former President Donald Trump invited members of the Roanoke College women’s swim team who took a stand against a transgender athlete’s attempt to join the team onto the stage.
“Last year, the radical left’s gender insanity arrived right here in Salem when a man was allowed to transfer onto the Roanoke College’s women’s swim team,” Trump said. “I just met them backstage. They’re great swimmers. … The brave members of the swim team stood up to the transgender fanatics, something new in our country.”
President Trump welcomes the Roanoke College women’s swim team on stage at his Virginia rally.
President Trump will KEEP MEN OUT OF WOMEN’S SPORTS! pic.twitter.com/IT16gECLaX
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) November 2, 2024
Exciting moment in Salem, Virginia! Members of the Roanoke College Women’s Swim Team high-five @GlennYoungkin as they join @realDonaldTrump on stage! pic.twitter.com/3E3XwKM2PT
— Christian Martinez (@C_RMartinez) November 2, 2024
The Roanoke swimmers wore t-shirts featuring, “Keep [hot dog weiners] out of women’s sports.”
