Schools and sports programs are meant to educate, empower, and support young people—not harm them. But far too often, our athletic program abuse lawyer handles cases that show how the very institutions entrusted with children’s safety become places of abuse, manipulation, and trauma. At KBA Attorneys, we represent survivors who experienced physical, sexual, emotional, or psychological abuse at the hands of educators, coaches, or school staff—especially when those in power used their position to silence victims.
From public schools and private academies to college athletic departments, these cases reveal a troubling truth: abuse in educational settings remains widespread and underreported. When schools and coaches fail to protect, our firm steps in to stand up for survivors.
Athletic Program Abuse Lawyer
One of the most high-profile recent examples of institutional failure comes from Boston University (BU), where media personality Alex Cooper, host of the Call Her Daddy podcast, has publicly alleged years of harassment by her former women’s soccer coach, Nancy Feldman. In the Hulu documentary Call Her Alex, Cooper details how Feldman used her power to intimidate, manipulate, and isolate players—making sexually suggestive comments, crossing physical boundaries, and retaliating against those who resisted.
Cooper describes one-on-one meetings where Feldman placed her hand on Cooper’s thigh, demanded details about her personal life, and used team privileges as tools of coercion. When Cooper attempted to report the abuse, she was allegedly warned by school officials not to pursue it—reflecting a systemic failure to support victims and prioritize their safety over institutional reputation.
The university has not directly responded to Cooper’s claims. Feldman retired in 2022 amid praise, and a separate investigation into successor Casey Brown—who was accused by players of favoritism and inappropriate behavior—resulted in a quiet mid-season departure. These cases highlight the deeply embedded culture of silence in collegiate athletics.
What happened to Alex Cooper illustrates a critical legal and cultural truth: abuse without physical injury is still abuse. Psychological manipulation, unwanted sexual comments, retaliatory benching, and boundary violations can have long-lasting emotional and mental health consequences. At KBD Attorneys, we understand that these harms are real—and that they are often harder for survivors to name, report, or prove.
Whether it’s a coach leveraging power over playing time or a teacher grooming a student under the guise of mentorship, these dynamics are not just unethical—they can be legally actionable.
Abuse in educational settings can occur in any environment where children or young adults are under the authority of an institution, including:
- Public and private K–12 schools
- Boarding schools and academies
- Special education and alternative learning programs
- Youth athletic organizations and club sports
- College sports programs and NCAA-regulated teams
Our athletic program abuse lawyer is currently investigating cases involving:
- Sexual misconduct by teachers, coaches, and school staff
- Psychological abuse or harassment within athletic programs
- Failure to report abuse or protect students after complaints
- Cover-ups by school boards, athletic departments, or university officials
Why Experience Matters In Athletic Program Abuse Cases
Many survivors face retaliation or disbelief when they come forward. Some are told to stay quiet or risk losing their spot on the team, scholarship eligibility, or reputation. Institutions often respond by protecting the adult involved—issuing quiet retirements, minimal investigations, or empty statements about “zero tolerance” while doing nothing to prevent further harm.
This institutional betrayal deepens the trauma and makes justice harder to achieve. Our abuse attorney works to break the cycle of silence, holding schools, boards, and individuals accountable for both the abuse itself and their failure to act.
Our legal team is experienced in handling complicated cases of abuse within schools and athletic programs. We use a trauma-informed approach to help survivors reclaim their voice while pursuing:
- Civil lawsuits for damages related to emotional or physical harm
- Title IX or constitutional rights violations
- Claims involving negligent hiring, supervision, or failure to report
- Investigations into school records, complaints, and communications
If your abuse happened years ago, you may still have legal options. Many states have extended the statute of limitations or opened lookback windows allowing adult survivors to file lawsuits that were previously time-barred.
If you or someone you care about experienced abuse in a school, sports program, or educational institution—you are not alone. And you do not have to carry the burden in silence. Whether it involves a teacher, coach, principal, or administrator, KBA Attorneys is here to help you seek justice and healing. Contact our athletic program abuse lawyer today for a confidential consultation. We are currently investigating new claims involving school and collegiate abuse nationwide.
