No disciplinary action has been taken by UALR against Scott Norwood following an investigation into the baseball coach's conduct that stemmed from allegations made by a former assistant coach, according to documents obtained by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette through the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act.
The investigation began after former assistant baseball coach Cole Gordon filed a formal complaint with the school's Department of Human Resources that contained allegations of physical and sexual harassment by Norwood. An investigation is common whenever a complaint is filed with the school's human resources department.
UALR officials found the allegations to be without merit and consider the investigation closed, according to a letter the university sent Gordon on Friday.
"I take the student-athlete experience very, very seriously, and the welfare of my student-athletes and coaches is very important to me," UALR Athletic Director Chris Peterson said in a telephone interview with the Democrat-Gazette.
Gordon, 29, spent less than nine months at UALR before turning in his resignation April 21 in the middle of the baseball season. Documents obtained by the Democrat-Gazette also revealed Gordon was implicated in two secondary NCAA recruiting violations that were self-reported by the university.
Gordon, who was hired Aug. 1 from Seminole (Okla.) State and whose salary was $30,000, remained on UALR's payroll through Saturday, which was the official resignation date included in Gordon's handwritten resignation letter.
Norwood, who is 148-178 in six seasons at UALR, declined comment when reached by telephone. Gordon, a native of Poteau, Okla., also declined comment when reached by the Democrat-Gazette and his lawyer, David Warta of Tulsa, did not return messages seeking comment.
Documents show the university's investigation of Norwood began April 28, a week after Gordon resigned and four days after he submitted his letter of complaint. Gordon declined that day to give specifics beyond his letter of complaint to the human resources department on the advice of his lawyer, the report said.
"I can't stand the thought of working in this environment," Gordon wrote in his complaint. "I feel like I have been held hostage for these events and I have decided to resign from the University of Arkansas Little Rock and pursue other job opportunities."
In the complaint, Gordon said Norwood "physically grabbed my head or hit me" and that on Feb. 13 he "physically had to defend myself and push Mr. Norwood off me when he approached me."
The human resources report said Norwood denied the incident occurred, as did assistant coach Drew Maus, who shared an office with Gordon at Gary Hogan Field. The human resources letter stated the allegation "cannot be substantiated."
Gordon also said in his complaint that a UALR player, whose name was redacted from the report released to the Democrat-Gazette, told Gordon that Norwood made "sexual comments" about the player's girlfriend. The human resources report said the player declined an interview request with the human resources department, saying he had already relayed information to Richard Turner, UALR's senior associate athletic director for compliance.
"There is no evidence to support the allegation," the human resources report states.
Gordon's complaint states that on March 24 he told Turner and Gary Hogan, senior associate athletic director for external operations, what the player had told him. The complaint said Gordon was told to "not say a word, we can't let this get out."
The school's report states Hogan and Turner denied advising Gordon not to make a complaint, as did Maus and assistant coach Chris Marx.
The human resources report states Turner recalled a conversation with Gordon on March 24 in which Gordon told Turner that he heard two players "talking about alcohol being purchased for players by Scott Norwood." The report states Turner met with the two athletes and that both denied having any knowledge of Norwood providing alcohol to players.
In a letter addressed to Gordon on April 25, Turner asked Gordon to stop contacting current and prospective UALR players.
"I would like to go on record as saying that I do not believe the allegations contained in your complaint, and I am disappointed you continue to make false assertions about the baseball program here at UALR," Turner wrote.
In UALR's self-reporting of violations to the NCAA, it said Gordon arranged an unofficial visit for two potential recruits April 17, which was during an NCAA dead period. College coaches are not allowed to make in-person contact or evaluations with prospective recruits on or off campus during the dead period.
The report also states Gordon committed another violation when he failed to report the original violations. Marx informed Norwood of the violation, the report states.
Turner said the school is no longer recruiting the two players involved in the violations, which are being reviewed by the NCAA.
UALR finished 25-29 overall and 11-19 in the Sun Belt Conference this year and failed to reach the conference tournament for the fourth time in six seasons.
Norwood was hired from Ouachita Baptist University in 2008 after leading it to the NCAA Division II national championship game and led UALR to its only NCAA Tournament appearance in 2011. He has two years remaining on a five-year contract extension that began July 1, 2011.
Sports on 06/05/2014