Huntington U. furloughs coaches amid court case

HUNTINGTON, Indiana (WANE) — Huntington University has furloughed its chief cross-country coach and an assistant after two former runners claimed in a federal lawsuit that they were doped, sexually assaulted and raped.

The university said Thursday that it had placed head coach Lauren Johnson and assistant coach Curtis Hines on administrative leave “effective immediately and pending further investigation.” The school appointed track and field coach Austin Roark as interim cross country coach.

A lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for Northern Indiana late last week alleges Nicholas Johnson, who was the head coach while his wife was an assistant coach, and his wife instituted the doping program at HU, where some of the team members were invited to attend a “study.” ‘ or ‘experiment’.

Both Hines and Lauren Johnson knew about the doping program and did nothing to stop the distribution of the drugs, the lawsuit said.

Nicholas Johnson would also rub unknown substances onto the runners, the lawsuit claimed.

Inside the suit, the runners claimed Nicholas Johnson would perform massages or “treatments” on them and sexually assault them. The lawsuit also alleged that Nicholas Johnson raped a runner multiple times.

The runners claimed Hines and Lauren Johnson knew about the abuse but took no action, according to the lawsuit. It added that university officials were, or should have been, aware of the abuse and had done nothing to protect the runners.

After the lawsuit was filed, Huntington University issued this statement:

“University leadership has been made aware that a civil lawsuit has been filed naming the University and individuals previously and currently associated with the University. Huntington University is conducting its due diligence but cannot comment further at this time.”

On Thursday, she released another statement:

“The University has engaged with key stakeholders to begin the necessary work needed to ensure the continued care of our students.

The University has and continues to provide a variety of avenues and direct avenues for affected students to be heard, receive counseling services, and make Title IX requests. We remain committed to providing a workplace, educational environment, and other benefits, programs, and activities free from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.“

Earlier this week, several attorneys appeared in federal court on behalf of the runners, according to court filings and documents. The court also issued subpoenas to the defendants named in the lawsuit.

The runners are demanding compensation from all parties involved.