The Sports Group #sportslaw

While the “Support Person”/Parent was sending cross examination responses to the Complainant, the Complainant turned his video camera off. THE HEARING OFFICER INSTRUCTED ALL PARTIES TO HAVE THEIR VIDEO CAMERAS ENGAGED AT ALL TIMES. The disengaged video camera gave the Complainant an adequate opportunity to communicate with his mother without being seen by parties on the call. The UMBC “Decision Maker”/Hearing Officer confirmed Complainant’s conduct in writing. These actions were calculated criminal acts. Where was UMBC leadership and why was this not referred for criminal prosecution?

Within the hour after the February 11, 2026 hearing, I received an unsolicited “connection request” from the UMBC “Decision Maker”/hearing officer. This was an inappropriate ex parte communication. UMBC officials were notified of the inappropriate communication and a copy of the “invitation” e-mail was provided to UMBC officials. Several days later, the same “Decision Maker/hearing officer entered a judgment against the head coach (though the sanctions were minimal). The entire Title IX process was weaponized by UMBC against a head coach. WHERE WAS UMBC LEADERSHIP? It is neither acceptable nor normal for a hearing officer/judge/“Decision Maker” to initiate contact with an attorney/“advisor” in this way. Requests were made (weeks ago) to UMBC to turn this investigation over to the UMBC Board and Maryland law enforcement authorities.

Filing false police reports and witness tampering are criminal offenses. Using those acts to openly and brazenly attempt to destroy a coach’s career has civil consequences. A Rule 34 Document Preservation notice which includes the February 11, 2026 hearing video has been served upon UMBC.

Filing a false police report is a crime. Suborning perjury is a crime. Witness tampering is a crime.

The February 11, 2026 hearing occurred on WEBEX. Parties, witnesses, hearing officer and UMBC personnel were all visible in a “Hollywood Squares” style gallery. It is beyond belief that the UMBC hearing officer, UMBC Title IX Director and UMBC Title IX investigator (who were on the virtual conference) did not see the blatant “witness tampering”. I was in the midst of cross examining a witness AND I SAW IT. THE HEARING OFFICER APPARENTLY NOTICED IT (ONLY) AFTER I BROUGHT IT TO UMBC’S ATTENTION. A formal request was made to UMBC officials several weeks ago to refer this matter to Maryland law enforcement authorities.

All UMBC MLAX student-athletes should be entitled to a hardship waiver for this year and the University should aggressively support it. They were threatened by a senior athletic department administrator with cancellation of the full season (and assumed guilty), have practiced and played without a full coaching staff.

A simple comparison between the police reports and hearing video coupled with the videotaped actions of the “Support Person”/parent results in prima facie cases of (1) perjury, (2) filing false police reports, (3) witness tampering and (4) suborning perjury. Where is UMBC leadership? Where were the multiple layers of mandatory reporters? If UMBC leadership can’t be trusted (and they can’t) to regulate themselves, Maryland law enforcement is needed to investigate this case. The UMBC Athletic Director has a conflict of interest.

Maryland law enforcement authorities should subpoena the WEBEX video of the February 11, 2026 hearing. The conduct captured by that video was a clear violation of the law. WHERE WAS UMBC LEADERSHIP? Several members of UMBC “leadership” and a UMBC hearing officer were visible on the video while witness tampering occurred. The Athletic Director had a conflict of interest and should not have been allowed to participate in an employment decision.

A UMBC hearing officer confirms multiple acts of witness tampering in the middle of a hearing. A senior UMBC Title IX administrator and Title IX investigator are participants in the hearing and see blatant, VISIBLE witness tampering which included blurting out a response for the complainant/witness to hear (all confirmed by the hearing officer) and the Athletic Director opts to fire the coach. What is the Athletic Director hiding?

After witnessing repeated acts of malfeasance, false campus police reports and blatant, illegal interference by a support person/parent during a university hearing (where the support person was caught texting answers to the complainant during his cross examination), I requested that law enforcement be notified of the conduct. No action was taken by UMBC administration. A UMBC INVESTIGATOR, TITLE IX DIRECTOR AND TITLE IX “DECISION MAKER” WITNESSED THE CONDUCT. Several days later, a new Title IX director was appointed. After I notified UMBC of my concerns, a hearing officer confirmed the support person/parent’s conduct after reviewing WEBEX footage of the hearing. The support person/person was seen openly texting with the complainant and the “witness” reading the responses (as his own) during cross examination. THE ACTIONS OF THE SUPPORT PERSON/PARENT AND COMPLAINANT WERE CAPTURED ON WEBEX VIDEO. The conduct of the Athletic Director and responsible individual parties violates Title IX and warrants a review by law enforcement for possible criminal charges. WHERE IS UMBC LEADERSHIP? Been doing this work for well over three decades, I have never seen anyone text responses to a witness in real time during a hearing. And a head coach was fired over this…..? I am formally requesting a review by the UMBC Board and Maryland law enforcement. A similar request was made to UMBC weeks ago.

Three levels of mandatory Title IX reporting obligations ignored by UMBC (1) campus police, (2) resident life staff and (3) a senior level athletic administrator and a head coach is fired. The senior level athletic administrator who had a copy of the resident life staff report (and showed the coach a telephone sized image of the first page of the report ONLY) and a blatant conflict of interest recommended the termination. A mysterious disappearance of a Title IX administrator in the middle of a case. WHAT AM I MISSING? WHERE IS UMBC LEADERSHIP?

After the firing, Moran thanked his @UMBC_MLax staff, alumni and current players, saying, “I love all you men.” Don M. Jackson of @SportsGroup slammed Tucker, saying, “The student-athletes at UMBC are suffering due to lack of leadership in @UMBCAthletics. They deserve better.”

Moran and his attorney, Don M. Jackson of The Sports Group, said they are weighing legal options. “I just want to be reinstated as the head men’s lacrosse coach at UMBC,” Moran said. “That’s all I’ve wanted since Sept. 24, and I have been working towards getting back to that.’”

Aaron Pierre Emotional Speech At American Black Film Festival Awards / A... youtu.be/feF4hJxioVQ?si… via @YouTube

TLJ,III and Aaron Pierre at tonight’s extraordinary showing of “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” at The Old Vic Theatre , London, England. Phenomenal actor,Outstanding person!!!!

In Moran's absence, Craig Chick has served as interim head coach. UMBC is 2-6 overall and 1-2 in the America East. A 12-11 win against Bryant on Saturday snapped a four-game skid, and the team has four games left this spring.