GYM COACH GEDDERT BEING INVESTIGATED
MICH.» Former U.S. Olympic LANSING, women’s gymnastics team coach John Geddert is facing a criminal investigation after the final sentencing of disgraced ex-sports doctor Larry Nassar, who molested girls at Geddert’s elite gymnastics club in Michigan.
The Eaton County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday that people recently came forward with complaints against Geddert, 60. The office declined to elaborate on the number of complaints, when exactly they were filed or their nature, citing the ongoing investigation.
Geddert until recently owned and operated Twistars, a gym in Dimondale near Lansing where Nassar offered treatments on Monday nights. During Nassar’s two recent sentencing hearings, some victims complained that Geddert was physically abusive, was indifferent to injuries and forced them to see Nassar.
One also alleged that Geddert was aware in the late 1990s that Nassar had performed an “inappropriate procedure” on her when she was 16, and her mother and Geddert agreed that Nassar would not treat her in private appointments again. That accuser’s anonymous statement was read in court by a prosecutor.
Geddert has insisted he had “zero knowledge” of Nassar’s crimes. In response to lawsuits, his attorney filed court papers saying Geddert was “just one person in an extremely long line of people who were fooled by Nassar.”
Geddert previously was accused of physically assaulting a Twistars employee in 2011. He also was accused of assaulting a gymnast in 2013. He did not face charges in either case.
CU great Chilson goes into Hall.
Former University of Colorado star Hatfield “Chilly” Chilson will be inducted into the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Hall of Fame.
Chilson earned 11 combined letters in three sports from 1923-26: football, basketball and baseball. He was a captain in all three sports and earned all-RMAC honors in all three sports.
Chilson passed away in 1991 at the age of 87.
USC signs Helton to extension.
Southern California coach Clay Helton received a contract extension through the 2023 season after leading the Trojans to their first conference title since 2008.
USC has a 21-6 record in the last two seasons under Helton, including a 31-28 win in the Pac-12 title game over Stanford to become the first team from the South Division to win the conference since it expanded in 2011. Helton is the first coach in school history to win at least 10 games in each of his first two seasons as head coach.
Helton was promoted to head coach in November 2015 and received a five-year contract after the in-season firing of Steve Sarkisian.
• Auburn coach Gus Malzahn will make $49 million over the next seven years under his new contract.
Under the deal released Tuesday, Malzahn will make $6.7 million this year with a $100,000 annual raise. He’s scheduled to make $7.3 million in 2024.
WNBA’s Liberty staying put.
YORK» The New York Liberty is NEW remaining under the control of New York Knicks owner James Dolan and Madison Square Garden.
The WNBA team was put up for sale in November. An MSG executive confirmed that Dolan’s group decided to keep the Liberty at this time.
U.S. Open makes schedule changes.
The U.S. Open’s new, 14,000-seat Louis Armstrong Stadium will have dedicated night sessions in 2018.
The U.S. Tennis Association said it is making changes to the schedule for its Grand Slam tournament.
This is the first time the U.S. Open will have two arenas with double sessions. Through last year, only Arthur Ashe Stadium had separate day and night programs.