Baylor University has avoided a potential Title IX lawsuit brought by a former student-athlete whom a jury found was the victim of a sexual assault by former Bears defensive end Sam Ukwuachu. Attorney John Clune declined to divulge details, but confirmed the school had settled with his client.
"All I can say is that the matter has been satisfactorily resolved," Clune told the Dallas Morning News.
In August, Ukwauchu was convicted of sexually assaulting a former Baylor soccer player in 2013. Both the Baylor football program and the school's administration came under intense scrutiny about the way the case was handled, prompting the victim to consider litigation under a Title IX provision that sets federal standards for schools in their investigations of sex crimes. Ukwuachu remained on football scholarship after he was indicted for the crime and, according to defensive coordinator Phil Bennett, remained on the team and anticipated playing for the Bears this season as recently as two months prior to the trial.
The circumstances under which Ukwuachu transferred from Boise State to Baylor, and whether Baylor was fully aware of Ukwuachu's behavioral problems at Boise State, put both schools under scrutiny as well.
No lawsuit was filed by the victim in the case. Ukwuachu was sentenced to three months in jail and 10 years of felony probation, along with community service. He was denied a new trial.
Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter @ChaseGoodbread.
