Woman says former PSU assistant exposed himself when he was with Miami

Four months before the University of Maryland footballprogramhiredJoshGattis as its offensive coordinator, a woman said he exposed himself to her in Florida, prompting a police investigationthathassincebeenclosed.

Gattis was on the University of Miami football staff in November 2022 when the woman, a custodian at the university, said he entered a bathroom on the school’s campus and called out to her. Worryingsomethingmightbe amiss, she entered the bathroom where she said she saw him facing her and masturbating, according to police records.

Gattis, 39, later took a polygraph test denying that he intentionally exposed himself to the woman. The polygraph examiner did not detect any deceptionfromGattis,according to a transcript provided to police, which The Baltimore Sun obtained through Florida’s Sunshine Laws.

The custodian, an immigrant in her 50s who does not speak English, indicated in a statement in Spanish to police on the day of the incident that she wanted charges pressed. Prosecutors did not pursue charges, however, and she did not press the issue.

Reached last month by The Baltimore Sun, the woman said she regretted not pursuing the case and said the alleged incident triggered a visit to the emergency room for a panic attack as well as a need for regular visits with a therapist.

Within minutes of when she said the incident occurred last year, she reported it to her supervisor, Juan Vasquez, who notified the University of Miami Police Department.

“Icanstillheartheshivering inhervoice,”VasqueztoldThe Sun earlier this month.

Gattis,whocoachedatPenn State under James Franklin from 2014-17, declined to comment. And Miami did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Gattis was fired from his Miami position Jan. 27, two months after the conclusion of the Hurricanes’ disappointing 2022 season and amid the police investigation. During that time, Gattis was in text communication with a policechiefwhohasservedfor decadesasavolunteersecurity adviser for the Miami football team.

Maryland, which went 7-5 this football season and will play Auburn in the Music City Bowl in Nashville, Tennessee, on Dec. 30, hired Gattis in March, agreeing to a contract through Dec. 31, 2024. He is contracted to earn $950,000 in 2024.

“Maryland Athletics is aware of the reported incident and understands that no charges were filed,” Maryland football spokesperson Dustin Semonavick wrote in astatement.“Aswedowithall coaching hires, we conducted due diligence including a standard background check. We have every confidence in Coach Gattis’ ability to help lead our program and uphold the values of our athletic department and university.”