Auriemma Faced With Harassment Suit

N.Y. Daily News, Joe Jenkins

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/college/geno-auriemma-university-connecticut-u-s-women-olympic-basketball-coach-sued-advances-article-1.1093992

University of Connecticut and U.S. women’s Olympic basketball coach Geno Auriemma has been named in an employment discrimination lawsuit filed by a security official for the Olympic team who claims she was removed from her assignment after she rebuffed Auriemma’s attempt to grab her and kiss her.

The NBA and USA Basketball are also named in the suit, which was filed in Manhattan State Supreme Court on Friday by NBA security official Kelley Hardwick, a former New York City undercover narcotics detective and a law school graduate. The suit says Auriemma grabbed and tried to forcibly kiss Hardwick, who was working as a security official for the women’s team at a basketball tournament in Russia in 2009.

In the complaint, Hardwick says the incident took place in a hotel in Yekaterinburg in October 2009. “As plaintiff put her key into the door, defendant Auriemma approached her from behind, took hold of her left arm, and, as she turned, he forcibly tried to kiss her on her mouth, the complaint says. Plaintiff was startled but, utilizing her training as a police officer and security professional, reacted quickly by shoving him away and stating, ‘What are you doing? You better check yourself before you get hurt!’ ”

Hardwick told The New York Times that she “grabbed his face and mushed him.”

The suit claims that Auriemma, who is slated to coach the 2012 Olympic team in London, demanded that Hardwick be removed from her assignment as head security official for the women’s squad at the Olympics after she denied his advances.

Hardwick, 46, worked as a security official for the team in the 2004 and 2008 Olympics. The NBA is a member of USA Basketball and oversees its security.

Auriemma Faced With Harassment Suit

N.Y. Daily News, Joe Jenkins

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/college/geno-auriemma-university-connecticut-u-s-women-olympic-basketball-coach-sued-advances-article-1.1093992

University of Connecticut and U.S. women’s Olympic basketball coach Geno Auriemma has been named in an employment discrimination lawsuit filed by a security official for the Olympic team who claims she was removed from her assignment after she rebuffed Auriemma’s attempt to grab her and kiss her.

The NBA and USA Basketball are also named in the suit, which was filed in Manhattan State Supreme Court on Friday by NBA security official Kelley Hardwick, a former New York City undercover narcotics detective and a law school graduate. The suit says Auriemma grabbed and tried to forcibly kiss Hardwick, who was working as a security official for the women’s team at a basketball tournament in Russia in 2009.

In the complaint, Hardwick says the incident took place in a hotel in Yekaterinburg in October 2009. “As plaintiff put her key into the door, defendant Auriemma approached her from behind, took hold of her left arm, and, as she turned, he forcibly tried to kiss her on her mouth, the complaint says. Plaintiff was startled but, utilizing her training as a police officer and security professional, reacted quickly by shoving him away and stating, ‘What are you doing? You better check yourself before you get hurt!’ ”

Hardwick told The New York Times that she “grabbed his face and mushed him.”

The suit claims that Auriemma, who is slated to coach the 2012 Olympic team in London, demanded that Hardwick be removed from her assignment as head security official for the women’s squad at the Olympics after she denied his advances.

Hardwick, 46, worked as a security official for the team in the 2004 and 2008 Olympics. The NBA is a member of USA Basketball and oversees its security.