Alyssa Bodeau's phone won't stop buzzing. He started the season as Henry Burris' backup, but took over the starting role when Burris tore a ligament in his left thumb. Kali. It is unclear if it is the same donor that complained to Ganders. Dec. 20, 2018 So it makes me sad that the school I love so much is making these decisions, Bodeau said about the conclusion of the original investigation. Almond told investigators he met with Schulz. It made me avoid coming back here to games, one of my favorite things to do, because I didnt want to run into him, she said. They were my life when I was in Pullman, she said. I realized that a donor is now frustrated because of the actions of Jason Gesser, Ganders told investigators. So many thoughts. Never once did I feel unsafe or have anything at all that would have given me a flag of caution from the way that he acted, Wold said. I hadnt seen the kids in a very long time. He is also minoring in criminal Dylan Greene is a journalism and media production major from Stanwood. "There were just so many girls with their own stories across the nation, and I just felt it, and it was so heavy," she says. Instead of playing professional volleyball while her husband played professional. WSU has determined that Gessers interaction with Bodeau violated university sexual harassment policy. Gesser, who was assistant athletic director at WSU, resigned last week in light of the multiple allegations of sexual misconduct. I was very close with their oldest daughter, she still has my signs on her door.. I decided to not contact them at all for fear of running into him or for fear that I did something wrong.. In the statement, WSU leaders said the new report was the first time an alleged victim made a formal complaint against Gesser, who works an assistant athletic director for the Cougar Athletic Fund. She expected internet commenters to attack her character, for friends and family to defend it. In the summer of 2013, Wold said she began nannying for the Gessers and did so for about a year and a half. In 2013, Gesser returned to Pullman after six years of professional football and several coaching stops, including a stint at the University of Idaho. When Wold started nannying for the Gessers in 2013, she was still a student but no longer an athlete. 290. [Coworker] indicated that Jason had a sexual relationship with [intern], a student-athlete and Jasons intern, Farkas said, according to the notes. "Awesome," he said. It was like he just disregarded it all.. After college, Gesser played professional football for six years and spent time on four separate coaching staffs, including serving as the interim head coach at the University of Idaho for six games, before returning to WSU in 2013. She's troubled by reports that WSU football legend Jack Thompson told WSU employees to "fall in line," chiding WSU employees who reported rumors about Gesser that made it to President Schulz. He is also minoring in criminal Dylan Greene is a journalism and media production major from Stanwood. Jason had asked if they could leave for her place in order to catch up further, she said. But they said, 'We feel we want to have a comfort level of someone who has played.' Jason Gesser, the assistant director of athletics for the Cougar Athletic Fund, has resigned following new allegations of sexual misconduct by former WSU volleyball player Alyssa Wold. He put his hand around my head and pulled my head in to kiss him and I could hardly say no by the time my face was so close to him, she said. He aggressively came into his office, accused me of ruining his life, his marriage and his kids lives.. Get breaking news delivered to your inbox as it happens. IAN SMAY and DYLAN GREENESeptember 17, 2018. Gesser was signed by the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent in April 2003. There was a number of eyebrows raised, Farkas said in the records. She holds a mug filled with tea. I wanted their kids to be in our wedding, I couldnt even invite them to our wedding.. Almond also said he was told to shut my mouth and stay in my lane, but did not make clear who said that, according to the records. At least one woman was a student at the time of an alleged sexual encounter, according to the records. However, she denied having romantic relations with Gesser at the event or otherwise. While Gesser provided the statement the day he resigned, he did not cooperate with the WSU investigation. Jason was flirty at times, Wold said, but she chalked this up as part of his personality and he never appeared threatening while she was in Pullman. Multiple advances made on both student interns and coworkers, including allegations of sexual relations and attempting to kiss a co-worker after having dinner with a donor, as recently as 2017. she asks. I was so confused and terrified in that moment, Wold said during an in-person interview at Neill Public Library on Monday. I pulled away. "Oh my gosh, there's more there's another one.". View popular celebrities life details, birth signs and real ages. When he finally pulled her onto the couch, she said the unwanted groping began. "I'm trying to think of how I can help support these girls to find their voice," she says. Hundreds of pages of public records show a number of allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct against Jason Gesser, assistant director of athletics at the Cougar Athletic Fund, dating back as far as 2014. Gesser led WSU to two straight 10 win seasons from 2001-2002, and finished seventh in the 2002 Heisman Trophy race. [Gessers] reputation with WSU is tattered, regardless of what you find, Farkas said in the records. Farkas said in his interview with OEO that Ganders had told him the donor called and was irate because Jason dropped [the former player] off the following morning, according to the records. I will not allow my name to be unfairly smeared, and I will continue to passionately serve our University as a proud member of Cougar Nation, Gesser wrote in his statement. These feelings kept her from inviting the Gessers to their wedding and when his name would pop up, it would bring back the emotions of that night. It might just take a little bit for me to feel comfortable. During their ride, they both were silent, other than Gesser telling her it was OK because nothing happened between them, Wold said. Shortly after, she began to babysit for the family. Staff is frustrated, I am frustrated.. A day later, another woman named Lindsey Streets detailed to the Spokesman-Review how, in 2015, she called police after a sexual encounter with Gesser while she worked as a masseuse. I was told that Schulz had already been made aware of discretions about Jason Gesser by his cabinet prior to our meeting. They are evaluating whether we renew [Gessers] agreement for the fall.. and I am deeply committed to my wife . Facebook gives people the power to. She knows if she had to do it all over, she would definitely share her story publicly again. I repressed it so hard. I received a text from Jason Gesser that next day, saying that we probably shouldnt tell [his] wife that we saw each other, Wold said. Bring it to the light so that we all as a community can begin the healing process.". The OEO investigates these claims for policy violations other than EP 15 if they feel the need to, as it still could be considered harassment of a protected class, she said. Bodeau spoke out after reading about other allegations against Gesser. After the event ended, she said she and Gesser went with a group of people, including then-Director of Athletics Bill Moos, to a local bar for drinks and to catch up. Learn How rich is He in this year and how He spends money? I know hes pretty close with the volleyball program and has a friendship with [head] coach [Jen] Greeny and I wonder what that looks like being at their home alone, no supervision.. He played quarterback for Washington State Cougars of the Pac-10 under head coach Mike Price, and played in the 2003 Rose Bowl. In December 2018, WSU found that Gesser violated the school's policy against sexual harassment. She definitely didnt want me to tell anyone else because she wasnt sure how she was going to deal with it.. "Institutions have a responsibility to protect their employees, to protect those who are under them from these things happening to these girls," she says. I bleed crimson for my love of Pullman. I definitely felt like I had the opportunity to be heard and that my situation was being taken seriously, Bodeau said. After a six-year professional career and several coaching stops, including a stint at Idaho,. Making the decision to speak out, she can't overemphasize, was "not the easy route." Bodeau shared her story on Monday, Sept. 17. FILE _ Former . Wold said she has wondered why Gesser is still employed at WSU, and said she was disappointed he was still working for the university. Gesser had a position of authority over the intern in question, according to the records. She thought turning off her phone and unplugging for an entire day would make things feel back to normal, but that only made it harder, she says. Gesser left WSU owning school records in a number of offensive categories, some which included career starts (34), total yards (9,007), pass attempts (1,118), completions (611), touchdown passes (70), and consecutive games with a touchdown pass (25). Copyright 2023, The Spokesman-Review | Community Guidelines | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy, interaction with her following a fundraiser in Tumwater in 2015, Spokane Valley Fire roundup: Multiple engines, water tenders fight rural home blaze in Otis Orchards, Downtown Spokane stadium groundbreaking set for Tuesday , Pandemic project: Dental lab owner Robert Carnell paints pop art abstracts of celebrities , Gardening: Bird feeders safe to hang this winter after salmonella epidemic in 2020 , Pandemic projects: Retired Freeman High School teacher self-publishes Welsh mystery series , Man who spent 10 years in prison in 2012 murder back in jail on suspicion of attacking women, Spokane Valley Fire asking for fire tax renewal: 'We're more than just a fire department', Getting There: Emergency closure of crumbling Magnolia Street pedestrian bridge frustrates some, Washington Legislature weighs changes to police pursuit after law enforcement criticism. The Evergreen has confirmed Wold coached for SMU in 2014 through the universitys website. Gesser played college football at Washington State University in Pullman. During an interview with KREM 2, she said she grew close to the Gesser family and met Gesser's wife through WSU volleyball. But I dont, because I dont want to run into him, I dont want to hear his voice and I dont want to hear his name, she said. Weiler said Schulz would trust his senior managers and supervisors to make a decision on employee discipline in their department if there was a concern about a particular individual and that he would not want to override anyones decision. He was the backup at the beginning of the season before replacing the injured Joe Germaine. I couldnt see an article with his face in it without wanting to puke, she said. She said Gesser offered to catch her up with how his family was doing and asked her to pick him up from his hotel. Gesser and USC quarterback Carson Palmer were named Pac-10 Co-Offensive Players of the Year in 2002. His wife is Kali Surplus Jason Gesser Net Worth His net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. He played as WSUs quarterback from 1998 to 2002. However, Peterson said that night still affects Wold. After this, Wold said Gesser moved to the couch, where he then tried to get Wold to sit with him. If this is a money thing, that breaks my heart even more.. But thinking it was an isolated incident, Bodeau did not take her concerns any further. Jason Gesser is an entrepreneur and the founder of Grit Consulting, a business consultancy that provides strategic tools to help support companies' organic growth. There is work that will have to be done.. I thought I was the only one that this happened to. One of the most diverse banks in the U.S. can be found on the Palouse, How new NIL rules for NCAA sports are finally letting Inland Northwest collegiate stars cash in, Artist Keiko Hara explores a sense of place, literally and figuratively, in a new WSU exhibit, A global manhunt, plus: the county whiffs on federal funding; and WSU students are left in the cold, ANALYSIS: Mayoral challenger Lisa Brown says Spokane is 'stuck in neutral.' The Evergreen filed a records request for the HRS review but has yet to receive them. When I saw that it was a pattern, thats when I decided, Im not going to stay quiet. If it doesnt stop now other girls will be in danger.. Gil Picciotto, who served as executive associate vice president for the WSU Foundation for 11 years before leaving to become the current president of Eastside Catholic School in Sammamish, said he went to Schulz with concerns. His wife was my favorite person in the world, and his kids are my favorite people.. Alyssa Bodeau, 27, of Spokane says Jason Gesser, a former WSU quarter back and Athletic Department employee, tried to force himself on her after a school fund-raising event in 2015. The Honolulu native earned First Team All-America honors and finished his Cougar career as a three time All-Pac-10 selection, and a four-time Academic All-Pac-10 honoree. I truly never meant to cause you harm.. For Bodeau, Gesser resigning isn't enough. "From men.". There was no funny business.. I can say confidently suggestive.. Wilson Criscione. There are 4 professionals named "Jason Gesser", who use LinkedIn to exchange information, ideas, and opportunities. About the same time, she started caring for the Gessers children, she said, to help out Gessers wife, a former WSU volleyball player who remained active with the team. Idaho's head coach Robb Akey was the defensive line coach at WSU during Gesser's playing days for the Cougars. Roberts also said Wold told her she didnt want to be involved with the Gesser family going forward. The Evergreen made multiple attempts to reach Matt Almond, general manager at WSU IMG, for comment regarding the reason for Gessers departure, but he never returned calls or emails, other than one from a secretary asking what we wanted to speak about. Investigators also attempted to interview (Gesser) and (former Athletic Director) Mr. William Bill Moos, who was present at the CAF event in 2015, investigators wrote. Is WSU athletics paying for Jasons side pieces to travel with him to events? Farkas told investigators a donor asked him. Washington State University placed former quarterback, and current athletic department employee, Jason Gesser on administrative leave Monday after a former Cougar athlete came forward with new . My interactions with Jason and everyone in the Cougar Athletic Fund department were completely professional, she said. She played her junior season in 2012, but chose to sit out her senior year because of an injury. Washington State University placed Jason Gesser, a former quarterback and current athletic department employee, on administrative leave Monday after a former Cougar athlete alleged Gesser tried to force himself on her after a fundraising event in 2015. It is now affecting my every day when I interact with that donor.. WSU has. That includes Uri Farkas, director of the Cougar Athletic Fund, and Gil Picciotto, executive associate vice president for the WSU Foundation. But she didn't expect the wave of women trusting her with their own stories. She also said she had heard of these things happening before her employment at WSU. It's something to do with her hands so they don't shake during interviews. Wold had gotten a new number and forgot to block his number on her new device, she said. The woman confirmed she had her travels and accommodations paid for by WSU and that Gesser had invited her to the event. I started to get really scared because he was not listening. He started as the football beat reporter in the fall of 2017 and midway through With 39 seconds left and WSU holding a 3-point lead, the Cougars put the ball into the hands of Charlisse Leger-Walker, their best player, perhaps the Luke Tylers parents believe fraternity hazing led to his death, CBD shown to be promising in reducing urge to smoke, Two big Spring Break trips featuring Murrow students; Evergreeners, Unsealed search warrants reveal new details about items found at Kohbergers PA home, Thousands of Pullman residents oppose proposal for biodiesel plant, Campus and community safety town hall to be held in Moscow tonight, RHA votes to approve 2% residence hall increase fee, Broken Promises: Aspen Heights awaited move-in canceled for many disappointed students, DYLAN GREENE, Evergreen deputy sports editor. He and fellow ex-Cougar Ryan Leaf both campaigned for the position of quarterbacks coach at WSU when it became available after the 2007 season. Gesser did not participate in the investigation. He started kissing my hand. Aside from writing and editing investigative news stories, he enjoys hiking, watching basketball and spending time with his wife and cat. She never participated the next day to be that four caddy, Ganders told investigators. , money, salary, income, and assets. He is a member of famous with the age 43 years old group. Uri Farkas, a former athletics administrator who was heavily questioned by the OEO, said people were mad Gesser had seemingly escaped any recourse for his alleged indiscretions. Efforts to reach Gesser on Thursday were unsuccessful. He filled the open position left by his successor at Eastside Catholic, Jeremy Thielbar, a former Cougar teammate. And then there's the bigger picture. I just said, No, she said. Also learn how He earned most of networth at the age of 41 years old? The next morning, Wold said she called her sister to talk about what had happened with Gesser the night before. The woman, 27-year-old Alyssa Bodeau, told The Spokesman-Review she filed the official complaint Monday with the WSU Office for Equal Opportunity after reading a story on Saturday about other allegations brought against Gesser. The department can reach out to those outside of WSU if there is reason to believe they have important information, Anderson said. Wold said she then received a text message from Gesser about the night before. He spent the entire season with the team but did not see any playing time behind Steve McNair, Billy Volek, and Neil O'Donnell. She was concerned as to why Jason had sent her a flirty text message. Almond's name was taken off the IMG website a week ago. He was only 18 years old. When asked if he could step in during personnel matters, Schulz answered yes. In February 2012, Gesser was promoted to offensive coordinator of the Vandals, assisted on offense by another former WSU coach, Mike Levenseller, who was the receivers coach and passing game coordinator. At least one intern spoke with OEO investigators about her time at WSU, but it was unclear if it was the same intern who allegedly had a sexual encounter with Gesser. (None were related to Gesser, she says.). There was enough concern for me to bring to President [Schulz], Picciotto told investigators. If Gesser or another university official engages in sexual activity with a student, it would present a problem for WSU, Weiler said. Bodeau, who says she was never called as part of WSU's original Gesser investigation, questions whether WSU truly wanted to find out the truth, or if investigators instead were going through the motions in an effort to clear Gesser. |. The event was really great. . "This was something that was my personal hurt that I would bury deep and take with me.". Gesser is the grandson of Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame member Joseph "Red" Dunn. I definitely felt more support just from those results, Bodeau said of the investigation. He made me feel like there was nothing wrong that happened.. When asked for her thoughts about this, Bodeau struggles to find the words. Lutheran Community Services 24-hour sexual assault crisis line: 624-7273. Jason Gesser has been a stay-at-home dad this NFL season, but the former Washington State quarterback hopes his football fortunes are about to improve. I told [Almond] about it because hes my boss and I trusted him. Copyright 2023, The Spokesman-Review | Community Guidelines | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy, Former Washington State quarterback, and current athletic department employee, Jason Gesser has issued a statement denying that he has had any inappropriate sexual relations with interns or staff, and wrote that he will not allow his name to be unfairly smeared. |, Washington State University officials announced Thursday that they found no violation of University policy regarding an investigation into alleged inappropriate sexual conduct by former quarterback, and current athletic staff member, Jason Gesser. The Evergreen talked to two people close to Wold who said they received a phone call from her the morning after the incident occurred. Bodeau took care of Gesser's children. The story caught him off-guard, Bodeau said, and he didnt know how she was able to keep the shocking events of that night a secret. I explained everything to him and it just brought everything rolling back because for a year I had suppressed it so hard to try to forget it.. One person interviewed by OEO said they knew of one student babysitting for Gesser at the time of his interview this January, a trend which has been going on for years. However, Bodeau said she went on to tell him the whole story. In his statement issued Friday about the earlier misconduct investigation and subsequent news coverage, Gesser wrote: The only thing I care about more deeply than WSU is my family and integrity. ". Gesser resigned. Gesser would not respond to the Evergreens request for comment. Youre interested in them in a romantic way, so it would be on the basis of sex.. The allegations are outlined in interview notes and records from a complaint review carried out by WSUs Office for Equal Opportunity that began in January, which the Evergreen obtained through a public records request. He was previously the interim head coach, offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach, and recruiting coordinator for the Idaho Vandals of the WAC. I chose to go there. During the 2006 off-season he was a quarterbacks coach at Federal Way High School in Federal Way, Washington. She expected a media. Young Seton Catholic plans to build on 1A state basketball loss, Fourth-quarter slump sinks Seton Catholic girls in 1A state opening-round loss, Seton Catholic boys win 1A state opening round, clinch berth for round of 12 in Yakima, State basketball matchups for SW Washington teams, Prep notes: Dennis Herling steps down as football coach at Seton Catholic, Seton Catholic prevails in rematch against La Center to reach 1A state regional. It was purely one-sided.. He slid his hand up my dress and placed it on my butt, she said. "They're coming to me with this, and most of them haven't told anyone yet. He said, We probably shouldnt tell my wife that I saw you. That sent me into a whirlwind because I didnt know what to think. Gesser coached the Crusaders for two seasons, then left in 2011 to become a graduate assistant at WSU in Pullman. If there is not a business reason for the university to be paying for that persons expenses, thats against the law, Weiler said. Gesser and his wife, former WSU volleyball player Kali Surplus, and their 17-month-old daughter, Jordyn, have stayed in Tennessee but a move to the Tacoma area is planned for mid-January. But what about them? I am thrilled to join the Seton Catholic family, Gesser said in a press release. And that text made me feel like I couldnt say anything, so I decided to remove myself completely from the family. WSU women beat No. Receive News Headlines Right in your Inbox! Updated Tue., Sept. 18, 2018 at 8:06 a.m. Thursday by the WSU student newspaper The Daily Evergreen, WSUs Gesser denies accusations of sexual misconduct, calls report a non-story, WSU responds to report alleging inappropriate sexual conduct by former football quarterback Jason Gesser, Spokane Valley Fire roundup: Multiple engines, water tenders fight rural home blaze in Otis Orchards, Downtown Spokane stadium groundbreaking set for Tuesday , Pandemic project: Dental lab owner Robert Carnell paints pop art abstracts of celebrities , Gardening: Bird feeders safe to hang this winter after salmonella epidemic in 2020 , Pandemic projects: Retired Freeman High School teacher self-publishes Welsh mystery series , 49 Degrees North adds all-day uphill skiing route, 'I'm hungry': Ex-Washington State RB Max Borghi grateful for XFL opportunity, hopeful for another shot at NFL, Pennsylvania friends, neighbors recall Moscow homicide suspect Bryan Kohberger's past, Community turns out for heated meeting in wake of North Idaho College accreditation threat. Gesser, a late camp cut by the Tennessee . Essentially asking out your coworker, typically thats on the basis of their sex, she said. In 2007, he was offensive coordinator at Parkland's Franklin Pierce High School. She was an intern for Cougar athletics and [was] directly reporting to Jason, Farkas said in the notes. Bailey Roberts, 26, said she remembered getting a phone call from her older sister about the encounter with Gesser. I didnt want to hurt the kids, I didnt want to hurt the wife because I was carrying around the belief that this was my fault, and I thought I was the only one this was happening to, and I thought if I remove myself from the situation it will all go away., Bodeau, her boyfriend at the time, said he was on the porch while Wold did homework in his room when she came out to talk and looked distraught.. "I thought I'd take this to my grave," she says. The more I kept telling him, No and Stop the more he kept telling me how much he liked me.. He is from United States. By Samantha Wohlfeil and Nathan Weinbender, WSU finds former QB Jason Gesser violated sexual harassment policy, Seed banks around the world guard against the perils of industrialized farming and disasters. When she was received the text, she was at her now-husbands house in Spokane and said the two had only been dating for a couple of weeks at the time. She said that final act made me want to vomit and I felt so disgusting.. One of the fall highlights for Gesser was going to a sports bar to watch the Cougars beat the Huskies, 28-25, in the Apple Cup, halting the streak of six consecutive Washington wins in the series. Are you talking about Gesser? the intern asked. Her hand clenches the mug handle. "It's started showing me there's a bigger picture to this," she says. Shortly after, she began to babysit for the family. Adam Ganders, assistant athletic director of the CAF, said he was worried about student interns and athletes babysitting for Gesser, including one he indicated was babysitting for them at the time of his interview in January. As Kali Surplus, she played setter on two WSU volleyball teams in 2000 and 01 that reached the NCAA tournament both years. Hes the one who messed up and she has to suffer for it. The donor complained to him that the woman had been invited up for Gessers personal reasons instead of the interests of the donors or WSU, Ganders said in the records. It's another thing entirely when women are sharing and trusting you with their story. Gesser recruited the Pacific Northwest and Hawaii for Idaho. Associate Director of Athletics Bill Stevens said Gesser and Director of Athletics Patrick Chun would not comment on the story, citing WSUs policy against commenting on personnel matters. Gifts processed in this system are not tax deductible, but are predominately used to help meet the local financial requirements needed to receive national matching-grant funds. 2,448. If its a money thing why WSU is keeping him around then shame on them, she said. Streets said. "She's sad that this is going on and has been going on for so long," he says. For Bodeau, however, it doesn't end there. She said she ran out on the porch to talk to him. Weiler said there is nothing inherently wrong with employees having students babysit as long as nothing inappropriate takes place. "He's already a legendary guy here and he can be like Jason Gesser going through his high school career and never losing a game.