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Deputy athletic director resigns

Amid harassment allegations, background disclosures USF's Corey Johnson decides to leave.

By PETE YOUNG, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published October 18, 2002

TAMPA -- Facing sexual harassment allegations and the embarrassing disclosure that South Florida was unaware of key elements of his past, USF deputy athletic director Corey Johnson resigned Thursday.

USF athletic director Lee Roy Selmon, who said this week he did not know Johnson was forced to resign as AD at Colorado State in 1993, met with Johnson Thursday. Selmon said he did not ask for Johnson's resignation.

"This decision is entirely mine and is not in response to a request to resign or any allegations," Johnson said in a statement released by the university. "I am not resigning because of any wrongdoing. I make this decision out of respect for the university president (Judy Genshaft), Lee Roy Selmon and the staff of our athletics program.

"Under no circumstances will I allow my individual employment situation and issues raised in the media or among my professional colleagues to divert attention from ... the university's athletics programs."

So, while I know my conduct has been above reproach, I believe my ability to effectively carry out the important charge assigned to me ... has been compromised."

Said Selmon: "The things that were coming up in the media, you have to look at. That's what we talked about. The important point is, at the end of the day, Corey tendered his resignation.

"He offered to resign if that would be in the best interest of the program. I agreed and accepted his resignation."

Last week, Johnson said two female employees at USF made sexual harassment allegations against him, which are being investigated by the university's Diversity and Equal Opportunity office. Johnson's background has been scrutinized since, and Selmon confirmed Wednesday that he did not know Johnson had been forced to resign at CSU.

Johnson, 54, was hired at USF in August 2001, three months after Selmon was hired, to fill the new deputy AD post. USF used Carr Sports Associates, Inc., the company it used to assist in its selection of Selmon. Bill Carr, former Florida AD, made Johnson one of four recommendations.

Johnson, AD at Long Beach State (1987-91) and Nova Southeastern (1995-2001), became AD at CSU in 1991 and, facing a budget deficit, dropped the baseball and softball programs. The softball move led to a landmark Title IX lawsuit, and CSU was forced to reinstate the sport.

Two football-related decisions led to Johnson's departure. According to the Rocky Mountain News, "CSU's booster club hit the wall in the spring of 1992 when (Johnson) announced season-ticket availability and seating designation would be based on booster club membership, where donations of $100-$4,000 are required. ... Plus the unpopular firing of football coach Earle Bruce and the growing dissatisfaction over Johnson's handling of the athletic department angered hundreds of longtime Rams boosters."

Johnson was assistant AD at Miami from 1983-87, and he was lauded by the Los Angeles Times for his work at Long Beach State. After CSU, Johnson was vice president of Contemporary Services Corp., a management firm in Northridge, Calif., and AD at NSU in 1995. NSU softball coach Robyn Handler filed a lawsuit in May 2001, saying she suffered an imbalance in pay. Johnson was named in the suit.

Despite Johnson's resignation, the sexual harassment investigation continues. University spokesperson Michael Reich said "any sexual harassment investigation is carried forward until the investigation is complete," though he did not acknowledge any investigation of Johnson.

Selmon said any decision to replace Johnson would be made "a few weeks down the road."

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