Texas Sued by Former Track Coach over Handling of Major Applewhite Case

Bev Kearney, former track coach at the University of Texas, has filed a lawsuit against the school for its handling of an investigation into campus sexual misconduct against Major Applewhite. 

Per Jim Vertuno of the Associated Press, Kearney's lawsuit stems from how Texas administrators handled Applewhite's relationship with a student trainer in 2009 on a bowl trip when he was an assistant football coach. 

Vertuno noted that Kearney, who is black, was forced out of her job with the track team in 2013 when the school discovered she had a relationship with one of her athletes 10 years earlier. 

"She has alleged race and sex discrimination, noting that Applewhite, who is white, was allowed to keep his job and was later promoted after his incident was discovered," Vertuno wrote. "Applewhite, a former quarterback at Texas, stayed on staff through 2013 and is now the head coach at Houston."

After the Texas Supreme Court voted not to block Kearney's lawsuit last June, her lawyers told reporters they intended to seek testimony from current and former Texas officials including former head football coach Mack Brown and former school president Bill Powers. 

Vertuno added Kearney's lawsuit is focusing on how different her case was handled compared to Applewhite's. She was placed on suspension by the school when her relationship was discovered in 2012, while Applewhite's situation was kept quiet and school officials described it as "consensual."

A former quarterback at the University of Texas from 1998-2001, Applewhite served as a coach for the football team from 2008-13. He was hired as head football coach at the University of Houston in December.