The complaint, filed Aug.24 in Alameda County Superior Court and obtained by OutKick, alleges Cal failed to intervene and allowed Chelsea Spencer to remain as head coach for months after athletic department staff learned of the alleged relationship.Spencer ultimately stepped down last year in June, four months after agreeing to a multi-year contract extension.
According to the lawsuit, a subsequent Cal investigation concluded that Spencer had violated campus policy regarding conflicts of interest in consensual relationships.The filing does not detail the dates when the probe started or ended.
It also alleged Spencer was not cooperative in the process.SJSU VOLLEYBALL COACH'S ALLEGED ASSAULT VICTIM SPEAKS OUT FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE ALLEGATIONS SURFACEDAn aerial view of Stu Gordon Stadium baseball field on the campus of the University of California, Berkeley on June 24, 2025.(Kirby lee/Getty Images)In an email to OutKick on Friday, a Cal spokesperson declined to comment on the lawsuit or the school's investigation into Spencer.The former softball player retained the services of Slater Slater Schulman law firm.
Gizem Gures, an attorney at the firm, referenced Cal’s reputation and its response to the investigation in a statement to USA Today Sports about the lawsuit."Berkeley proudly holds itself out as the No.1 public university in the world.
That reputation comes with a responsibility to protect its students.As a Cal alum, it is deeply disappointing to see what our client experienced and how the University responded after its own investigation substantiated the conduct.
Our client deserved better.Berkeley's students deserve better.
The University needs to do better," the statement read.A general view of Levine-Fricke Field during the seventh inning between the California Golden Bears and the Arizona State Sun Devils on May 10, 2012, in Berkeley, California.(Kyle Terada/USA TODAY Sports)The complaint further alleges that Spencer’s advances toward the former...