New Mexico has suspended head coach Bob Davie for 30 days without pay as the result of two investigations into the football program, the school announced Thursday.
The program was first investigated by retired federal judge Bruce Black, which recommended the review of "certain issues," according to the Albuquerque Journal. That led to the hiring of Chicago law firm Hogan Marren Babbo & Rose.
That investigation has produced a report that said it could not find instances of obstruction into criminal investigations by Davie or any other football coaches.
From the Journal:
A Chicago law firm hired by UNM says it could not conclude that football coaches or staff has obstructed with criminal investigations or misconduct cases involving players based on its review of three incidents, according to newly released documents.
But the firm is recommending leadership “take strong action to ensure that the University does not and will not — in any aspect of the University’s program, including athletics —tolerate sexual harassment, sexual assault, physical abuse or other prohibited misconduct against its students.” It is also urging greater oversight of the athletic department and other units “with respect to their handling of incidents of alleged misconduct” following its recent probe, according to the report it filed with UNM last month.
One witness accused Davie of holding a team meeting in which he allegedly instructed players to gather incriminating evidence on a woman accusing a UNM football player of rape, but the Chicago firm could not find evidence that actually happened. In another instance of another player being accused of rape, Davie did meet with a UNM police officer in defense of the player. From the report:
Coach Davie argued that the video, which showed the student making comments about breaking up with someone but did not mention (the accused player) undermined the female student’s credibility by showing she was seeking revenge and continued to advocate on the (accused player’s) behalf with the officer.
Davie was not interviewed by the firm, the report states.
New Mexico attorney general Hector Balderas has already launched an investigation into athletic department issues, and on Thursday announce he would expand said investigation. "Although UNM has clear policies, procedures and options for reporting misconduct and has made important progress in simplifying these options, gaps still exist. We will close the gaps and will not accept confusion or ignorance of policies as an excuse. Behavior that violates our policies will not be tolerated. We will intensify our efforts to educate our campus community and change the culture of accountability within the University," a New Mexico statement said.
Davie made $822,690 in 2017, according to the USA Today salary database, which would equate to a penalty of roughly $68,000 in going 30 days without pay. Davie completed his sixth season on the job in 2017. He is 30-45 with two bowl appearances.