Legal Battle Intensifies Over SJSU Volleyball Scandal

Melissa Batie-Smoose, a former assistant coach at San Jose State University (SJSU), has filed a new lawsuit alleging mistreatment before and during a scandal involving transgender athlete Blaire Fleming and teammate Brooke Slusser. Her initial lawsuit was dismissed in September, but she has brought new allegations forward.

The complaint accuses SJSU head coach Todd Kress of mocking Batie-Smoose’s support for Donald Trump and responding with hostility to her religious objections to Fleming’s participation. She claims Kress made her feel unsafe during certain interactions and alleges that Kress’s behavior damaged her relationships with players by mocking her political beliefs and excluding her from key meetings.

Batie-Smoose has worked with Kress before at Florida State and Fairfield University. She joined SJSU in January 2023. Disagreements arose regarding the participation of Fleming, a transgender athlete, leading to confrontations between Batie-Smoose and Kress. A significant incident took place in August 2023, when a recruit’s flight was canceled due to a hurricane. Batie-Smoose alleges Kress ignored her greetings, later confronting her in a manner that made her feel unsafe.

The complaint also involves alleged mistreatment of players, describing instances where Kress berated athletes, causing one to have panic attacks. Despite these reports, Batie-Smoose claims Kress faced no disciplinary action.

An additional accusation involves a 1998 assault by Kress reported to SJSU, allegedly corroborating Batie-Smoose’s claims of disparate treatment. She filed a Title IX complaint alleging unequal treatment, which led to her being placed on administrative leave just before a home match on Nov. 2, 2024.

Batie-Smoose’s suspension came with several restrictions, including surrendering her ID and keys. An accusation against her dated Oct. 24 included claims of unprofessional conduct and inappropriate language, among others. She denies these accusations and argues that rules were enforced selectively against her.

The NCAA changed its policy in February 2025 to limit participation in women’s teams to those assigned female at birth, following an executive order by Donald Trump. This policy change affects the ongoing legal disputes involving SJSU.

Batie-Smoose’s lawsuit seeks compensation, reinstatement, and correction of adverse records. While she has since taken a coaching position at Cisco College, her legal battle continues to address her termination and the broader implications for SJSU’s policies.