Trainer resigns amid abuse allegations

One of San Jose State’s top athletic trainers has resigned in the wake of a sexual misconduct scandal, according to a published report.

A saga that began more than a decade ago ended on Aug. 13, when Scott Shaw announced via e-mail that he was stepping down, USA Today reported Wednesday.

Shaw has been accused of touching female athletes inappropriately.

USA Today reported in the spring that Sage Hopkins, San Jose State’s swimming and diving coach, notified university police in 2009 of claims that Shaw had touched athletes “beneath their undergarments, massaging their breasts

and pelvic areas when they sought treatment for other parts of their bodies.”

Shaw remained employed by the university after an investigation, but Hopkins reportedly created a 300page file that was shared with San Jose State officials.

“It cannot be overstated that the university conducted a thorough investigation immediately after one allegation was made in 2009,” Shaw’s attorney, Lori Costanzo, told this news organization. “At that time, it was determined that Scott Shaw did nothing wrong.

“Virtually no new allegations have surfaced since 2009 other than Sage Hopkins’ self-serving compilation of hearsay and rants against the university’s athletic department.”

An investigation by USA Today in April brought the story into the public realm.

The newspaper reported that “four of the 17 swimmers who provided accounts in 2009 ... (claimed) Shaw often worked alone with them in the training room, did not explain his treatments and did not obtain informed consent.”

At the time, university president Mary Papazian vowed that “SJSU will take appropriate action if any misconduct has taken place, regardless of the time frame.” Papazian said in a statement that she had become aware of the accusations against Shaw last winter.

“Given the seriousness of the allegations, I checked with our Title IX office and human resources department about the 2009-10 investigation and was told that the inquiry by SJSU human resources department found no wrongdoing,” she said.

“However, the packet gave me pause and I wanted to know more about what transpired in 2009-10, so I reopened the matter in December.”

Shaw’s last day was Aug. 19, according to USA Today.