Spartans’ AD under pressure to resign

EAST LANSING, M ICH.» Mark Hollis has built a reputation as an innovative athletic director at Michigan State over the past decade.

Hollis is now facing open calls for his ouster in the wake of the Larry Nassar sexual assault scandal. Hollis’ legacy may crumble as part of the fallout.

One day after Michigan State president Lou Anna Simon resigned amid an outcry over the school’s handling of allegations against the disgraced doctor, attention shifted to others on the campus where Nassar once worked amid questions of who might be to blame for his criminal misconduct. USA Today columnist Christine Brennan called for Hollis to resign.

There has been no evidence that Simon or Hollis knew Nassar was sexually assaulting young girls and women, including some athletes who competed for the Spartans. Still, Simon stepped down under pressure.

“As tragedies are politicized, blame is inevitable,” Simon said in her resignation letter. “As president, it is only natural that I am the focus of this anger.”

A Title IX probe conducted by Michigan State cleared Nassar of sexual assault allegations in 2014. He was, though, advised by the Big Ten school to avoid being alone with patients while treating their “sensitive areas,” but Michigan State didn’t follow up on and enforce its request. At least 12 reported assaults occurred after the investigation ended, according to a Michigan State police report that was provided to the FBI for review by the U.S. attorney.

Hollis, like Simon, is a Michigan State graduate. He has been the Spartans’ athletic director since 2008 and was chairman of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Committee last season.

Michigan’s attorney general is going to review how Michigan State handled the Nassar case, per the school’s request. Also, the NCAA has sent a letter of inquiry to Michigan State “regarding potential NCAA rules violations related to the assaults Larry Nassar perpetrated against girls and young women, including some student-athletes at Michigan State.”

In the letter addressed to Hollis, the NCAA said serious concerns have been raised about institutional practices, athlete safety and Michigan State’s actions to protect individuals from Nassar.