Peterson: Timing of Iowa State soccer coach contract extension is bold, to say the least

AMES −The soccer coach's contract extension aside, I’m wondering how deep Iowa State’s investigation into serious public accusations former player Olivia Wee brought against coach Matt Fannon was?

Did Iowa State or a third-party even look into claims of bullying, body-shaming and humiliation?

No comment.

Apparently we’ll never know, although Wee and her family told the Des Moines Register they’ve heard nothing in that regard.

Those are among my questions after the school’s press release announcement Monday morning that Fannon had been given a two-year extension on a contract that was set to expire in 2024. That’s standard practice for coaches with just one year remaining on contracts, by the way. Apparently it’s common even if your three-season record is 11-27-9, your team went 0-7-2 in the Big 12 this season, and there are accusations within the program that at least deserved looking into.

The timing of Fannon’s extension was bold, to say the least.

If the contract extension was granted after Fannon was cleared of the Iowa State allegations, then that’s one thing. If the contract was extended without looking into the allegations from Wee and others, then that’s something else.

Iowa State could have at least publicly acknowledged claims existed, but when the Register asked administrators repeatedly for comment?

No comment.

More:Iowa State, women's soccer coach Matt Fannon agree to two-year contract extension

When the Register asked if formal Title IX complaints had been filed against the soccer program, the university neither confirmed nor denied. Same answer when asked if complaints were filed to the university’s Office of Equal Opportunity.

Wee’s family told the Register that they didn’t file a lawsuit against Fannon or the program because Olivia wanted to see change but not through lawyers.

“I just don't want people to have to continue to go through mental abuse because clearly it's continuing to go on, people are continuing to quit and transfer," Wee said. "I just don't want someone to have to go through that again."

Whether to file or not to file is up to the family, but is it only a big deal if there’s a federal complaint?

We’ll never know. Iowa State has refused to comment, and that’s unfortunate.

What kind of message does that send student-athletes who bring accusations to administrators, only to come away with a general feeling they’re being ignored? Public no comments seem a bit high-handed, if not arrogant.

Student-athletes need to know that their concerns not only will be heard but investigated, regardless of how many people stand up for the other side.

Did Iowa State talk to the players who publicly raised concern? There’s no evidence that they did, considering Wee said she didn’t talk to anyone.

More:Former players accuse Iowa State women’s soccer coach of verbal abuse, body shaming

If Iowa State investigated and found Fannon did nothing wrong, then come out and say it. I’m fine with that. Then at least the school would be transparent enough to say they looked into the claims by Wee and others. If the claims result in changes in the program, then that's a win. If we never hear another accusation about the soccer program, then maybe something good came from this.

If Iowa State didn’t look into those specific allegations, though, what kind of message does that send student-athletes of all sports?

“We have a continuous evaluation process for all of our programs, including a robust communications platform for student-athletes to share their experiences,” senior associate athletics director Calli Sanders said in the press release announcing Fannon’s extension. “In the last three years — including recent feedback from our current student-athletes — there is an overwhelming confidence in the leadership of our soccer program and the trajectory of the team’s future. Developing a winning culture takes time and our coaching staff and student-athletes are united in working towards the competitive results that we desire.”

When the Register’s Tommy Birch approached Sanders for further comment, which reporters routinely do, Sanders said:

"Stay away from me."

That’s another way to say no comment, I guess.

Iowa State columnist Randy Peterson embarked on his 50th year of writing sports for the Des Moines Register in December 2021. Reach him at rpeterson@dmreg.com, 515-284-8132, and on Twitter @RandyPete.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa State boldly extends soccer coach contract amid allegations