For the second time in the past few months, the Michigan football team has found itself responding to concerning allegations.
The Michigan Wolverines made headlines back in December when they fired head coach Sherrone Moore for allegedly having an improper relationship with a female staff member. Not only was Moore relieved of his coaching duties, he was arrested and charged with felony third-degree home invasion.
“When the findings of a University investigation into Coach Moore’s behavior were presented on Wednesday, we immediately terminated his employment. There is absolutely no tolerance for this conduct at the University of Michigan. None. I have been in close communication with the Board of Regents and we are united in committing to doing what is right,” Michigan president Domenico Grosso said. “This breach of trust by Coach Moore is painful for many in our community, first and foremost, the individuals directly involved in this situation. Yet our swift and decisive action reflects the University’s staunch commitment to a campus culture of respect, integrity and accountability.”
Now fast forward to this February, where former Michigan graduate assistant LaTroy Lewis is being investigated for sexual assault allegations.
The Ann Arbor Police Department said the allegations stem from an incident that occurred on Dec. 5, 2024. Lewis, who was still a coach for the Wolverines at that time, has been accused of raping a woman he met on a dating app.
"Karen Truszkowski, the woman's attorney, told ESPN that her client filed an incident report with the Ann Arbor PD and applied for a protective order against Lewis earlier this week," the report from Marc Raimondi states. "Truszkowski said her client and Lewis met on a dating app and started communicating in July 2024, while Lewis was an assistant defensive line coach at Michigan. Lewis' behavior "became increasingly aggressive" over text and phone calls, Truszkowski said.
"The two met in person for the first time at Weber's Hotel in Ann Arbor in December 2024, where Truszkowski said Lewis was supposed to give back goods her client had given him. According to the attorney, Lewis raped and battered her client at the hotel. The woman informed then-Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore, whom she knew personally, about the incident, according to her attorney. But Moore did not report Lewis and "weaponized" the incident against the woman, Truszkowski said, including sending her lewd and sexually charged text messages."
The fallout has already begun.
Michigan’s assistant vice president of public affairs, Paul Corliss, has officially responded to these allegations involving Lewis.
"These allegations are deeply concerning. As we have noted, the University launched an investigation of the circumstances and conduct leading to Sherrone Moore’s firing, as well as a broader culture review of the Athletic Department," Corliss said in a statement shared with the Detroit Free Press. "We continue to urge anyone with relevant information to reach out to the law firm conducting the investigation at umconcerns@jenner.com. The work is ongoing, and we will be able to share more when it is completed."
This situation is serious enough that Lewis has already been dismissed from his role as assistant defensive line coach for the Atlanta Falcons.
We'll continue to provide updates on this concerning situation.