Michigan State Suspends Football Staffer; School Police Continue Sexual Assault Investigation

Michigan State spokesperson Jason Cody confirmed that the football team’s director of college advancement and performance Curtis Blackwell was suspended with pay as of Tuesday afternoon.

Blackwell’s suspension coincides with the school’s announcement last Thursday that three football players and a staff member had been suspended indefinitely while university police investigate sexual assault allegations. None of the four were named in the school announcement. The Ingham County police are awaiting a completed report from the Michigan State police; from there, the district attorney will decide whether or not to press charges.

Prior to joining the staff, Blackwell was a high school football coach and co-director at a football academy for prep recruits. After joining the Michigan State staff in 2013, he oversaw Michigan State’s recruiting efforts during his first three years. According to MLive, he was present at a Feb. 1 press conference regarding the school’s recruiting efforts but has not spoken with the press since then.

The school will undergo a Title IX investigation and have an “external law firm” review whether football staff members adhered to university policy in responding to the sexual assault allegations.

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