Ohio high school cancels football season amid hazing and sexual assault lawsuits

Ursuline High School in Ohio has shuttered its football season amid two lawsuits alleging hazing, sexual assault and stalking within the program. The school said it would suspend its head coach and place two assistants on administrative leave as investigations continue, and that it is cooperating with law enforcement and other authorities. In a statement relayed by Cleveland’s local outlet, the school leadership said the actions were necessary to address serious concerns and ensure safety and accountability within the program.

The first lawsuit, filed by the Chandra Law Firm on behalf of a former Ursuline football player, alleges the student was hazed, physically and sexually assaulted, and subjected to the creation of child pornography during a football camp this past June. The suit says the player was recorded by teammates as he was forcibly coerced into a sexual act, with the material allegedly posted to the team’s Snapchat. The document also describes an incident in which teammates allegedly tried to pull off the player’s pants and underwear while muffling his cries. When the player’s mother reported the abuse to an assistant coach, the suit claims the coach replied, “It’s just boys being boys.”

A second lawsuit, filed later on behalf of a minor female, centers on alleged Title IX violations. The plaintiff accuses a star Ursuline football player of sexually harassing, stalking and violently assaulting her. The suit alleges the player repeatedly solicited nude photos from the girl, who rejected him and blocked him on Snapchat. It further alleges the player grabbed the girl, dropping her to the ground twice during a gym class and dragging her across the turf for about 30 yards, leaving her with turf burns on her back. The girl allegedly asked an assistant principal for help, asking, “So you’re just never going to help me?” The suit says that the same assistant principal and the athletic director were aware of the behavior but did not report it to authorities. The mother of the girl subsequently moved her to a different school district for her safety.

Attorney Subodh Chandra said in a statement that the suit alleges Defendants treated the girl’s life, safety and dignity as less important than winning football games. He said they allegedly protected their star player, lied to the girl’s mother, and ignored the repeated pleas of the student and her family. “They’re claimed to have acted with deliberate indifference toward a young, innocent girl’s physical and emotional well-being. She remains in back pain. With this suit, the family seeks to force the defendants to live up to their duty to protect all students—not just their precious football stars,” Chandra said.

The school has said the issues raised are serious and have prompted swift disciplinary actions, including the suspension of the head coach and the leave of two assistants. Ursuline noted that some students were disciplined or left the program or the school, and that it will continue to cooperate with investigations. The statements come as families connected to the program call for transparency as authorities review the events and the school’s handling of them. The two lawsuits were filed in recent weeks and allege a pattern of abuse spanning from the June football camp through the fall, prompting the district to halt activities for the season while investigations proceed.