Volleyball coach out amid controversy at San Jose State

San Jose State University told WORLD on Monday that Women’s Volleyball Associate Head Coach Melissa Batie-Smoose was not with the team. A spokeswoman declined to comment further on the matter and did not answer questions about how long the coach would be gone or the reason for the coach’s absence. Several schools have canceled games against San Jose State University this season without specifying reasons. 

Batie-Smoose last week filed a Title IX complaint against the school alleging the university showed favoritism to a transgender player, according to a recent report and interview with Quillette. The university has concerns about protecting student and employee privacy, according to a statement it provided to OutKick.

Have any players supported Batie-Smoose? Team member Brooke Slusser on Saturday wrote on social media that the university had taken away her team’s safe space by removing the coach.

Slusser a month ago told WORLD she wasn’t comfortable around senior outside hitter Blaire (formerly Brayden) Fleming. Slusser said that was the reason she joined a class-action lawsuit that aims to stop the NCAA from allowing male athletes to compete against women.

Dig Deeper: Read Ray Hacke’s report in WORLD Magazine about the team and the fight to keep men from sharing a court with women.