Martina Navratilova Demands Action Against SJSU Coach After Allegations

Martina Navratilova, a prominent figure in women’s tennis, has called on San Jose State University (SJSU) to dismiss volleyball coach Todd Kress. Her demand follows allegations made by a former player, which were highlighted in a Fox News Digital report. The allegations against Kress surfaced during a period when the university faced a transgender athlete scandal.

Navratilova supported U.S. women’s swimming Olympic gold medalist Nancy Hogshead, who originally criticized Kress and the university. Hogshead’s post focused on the broader issue of sex discrimination. Fox News Digital sought comments from SJSU and Kress regarding these concerns.

In October 2024, SJSU received a letter from a former player at Fairfield University, detailing an incident involving Kress in 1998. This letter described a distressing situation during a team trip when Kress allegedly behaved inappropriately while under the influence of alcohol. Despite the gravity of these allegations, Kress remains in his coaching position.

Emails between SJSU officials and the former player reveal that the university acknowledged receiving the allegations and expressed regret for her experiences. Nevertheless, there has been no disciplinary action against Kress.

Fox News Digital obtained verification that the former player competed under Kress in 1998. She described an incident where she felt coerced into participating in inappropriate actions to avoid jeopardizing her scholarship.

Todd again grabbed me, picked me up, and threw me into the bathtub where he held me down and threatened to turn on the shower…

The public records office at SJSU declined a public records request on June 22, 2026. The refusal was based on privacy concerns, with the university citing the California Public Records Act as justification. This decision underlined the importance of privacy over public interest in disclosure.

Fox News Digital pursued further responses from both SJSU and Fairfield University. They requested comments on safety measures and the public interest assessment. As the story unfolded, none of the involved parties, including Kress and university officials, offered any response to these inquiries.

The implications of these allegations have drawn attention to issues surrounding Title IX compliance and its impact on college sports programs. While SJSU remains silent, the call for transparency and accountability from both current and former students continues to build.