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Concordia says baseball coach released over alleged sexual misconduct
Updated: December 2, 2012 6:14AM
RIVER FOREST — Concordia University Chicago has announced that it released a former baseball coach two years ago following allegations of sexual misconduct.
In a letter sent out Wednesday, Concordia President John Johnson made the announcement concerning the firing of former baseball coach Spiro Lempesis.
In the letter, Johnson said a Concordia employee was made aware of suspected inappropriate sexual conduct involving the former coach.
“The reported misconduct did not involve minors,” Johnson wrote. “The employee immediately brought these concerns to his supervisors and campus leadership, and within hours, the head coach was suspended and barred from campus.”
When contacted, Lempesis would not comment on the matter.
Lempesis was terminated Sept. 27, 2010 following 10 years with the university. At the time, no explanation was given for his release, and no one would discuss the matter.
“In an effort to protect the privacy of those who had been subjected to the head coach’s conduct, we encouraged our students, their parents and our employees with knowledge of the conduct to refrain from commenting publicly about the matter,” Johnson wrote.
Concordia learned recently that Lempesis was arrested in a nearby county, Johnson said, though no charges were brought in the matter. The university has also brought on Patrick Collins, former Assistant U. S. States Attorney, to conduct an independent investigation of the original allegations and the university’s handling of the matter. It expects the investigation to be done by the end of the year.
“I am announcing this action today because of the recent alleged incident involving the former head coach and our determination to contribute, in whatever way possible, to the continued well-being of the university and its surrounding communities,” Johnson wrote.
Johnson said no other details would be released, to maintain the integrity of the investigation.
