Despite a relatively successful tenure, Eric Mobley’s time as head coach of Temple University’s track and field teams was not without its controversy.
A seven-month investigation by The Temple News, the college’s student newspaper, uncovered extensive allegations of sexual harassment and verbal abuse against Mobley stretching back years. From the time of his hiring in 2008 to his resignation in June, Mobley tolerated intimidation and bullying of athletes to the extent that some considered suicide, according to former members of the team.
“I would say the best word to describe my experience on the two years I spent on the Temple track and field team is ‘inappropriate,’ ” Ebony Moore, a former star discus thrower for the Owls, told the newspaper. “It was just completely inappropriate.”
In addition to the accusations against Mobley, it appears the university was aware of the problems yet declined to take action. After Moore had her scholarship revoked for complaining to the administration, the News reports, a larger group of athletes met with administrators in 2013, but Mobley continued to coach the team for more than a year.
Mobley was named Atlantic 10 Conference Coach of the Year in 2010 after guiding Temple to the outdoor track and field championship. He formally resigned this spring after a federal judge denied Temple’s motion to dismiss claims of harassment, sexual harassment and gender-based discrimination brought against him by Moore.
Temple cut men’s track and field in July as part of unrelated cuts to the school’s athletic department.
Photo via Facebook/Temple University Athletics
