San Jose State University is paying $300,000 to settle a retaliation lawsuit filed by the head coach of its women's swimming team who blew the whistle on a sexual harassment scandal at the school.
As part of the agreement — which the parties reached last month and was shared with the Business Journal on Wednesday — SJSU agreed to pay coach Sage Hopkins $225,000, and $75,000 to his attorney. The school also agreed to bump up Hopkins' salary and to issue a statement on his behalf from interim President Stephen Perez and Athletics Director Jeff Konya.
SJSU published that statement on Sunday. Prior to its publication, the parties had agreed to keep the agreement confidential.
"I am grateful for the leadership demonstrated by President Perez and Athletics Director Jeff Konya," Hopkins said in his own statement. "This has been a difficult and challenging time for myself and my family," he continued, "and I have endless gratitude for the support and love from my wife and children."
As part of the settlement agreement, the school denied any wrongdoing and didn't acknowledge having any liability for Hopkins' claims. The statement from Perez and Konya was a show of support for Coach Hopkins, school spokesman Kenneth Mashinchi stated in an email. Then-president Mary Papazian issued a letter offering similar sentiments in October, fulfilling a requirement of the U.S. Department of Justice, Mashinchi said.
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