Colorado football coach Gary Barnett could save his job if he proves that his program is not hostile to women, the school’s president said Thursday.
Barnett “could be on the sidelines this fall,” Colorado President Elizabeth Hoffman said, pending a report by an independent committee investigating allegations that the school used sex and alcohol to lure recruits.
The university is defending itself against lawsuits filed by three women who say they were sexually assaulted at or after a party attended by recruits and football players in December 2001. In addition, former placekicker Katie Hnida says she was raped by a teammate and the cases of two other women alleging they were sexually assaulted have come to light this week.
“We want to leave open the possibility that coach Barnett will still be our head coach,” Hoffman said.
He “has to prove to me that the culture in his football program is supportive of women and does not encourage or sanction sexual assault, rape by his players and then backing his players and not listening to the young women.”
The school placed Barnett on paid administrative leave Wednesday night over comments he made about Hnida, who claimed she had been raped by a teammate while at the school.
Appearing on CNN’s “Larry King Live” Thursday night, Barnett said he probably shouldn’t have answered the question.
“I understand how it looked,” Barnett said.