Alleged Sexual Advance In Russian Hotel Room Leads To Lawsuit Against Geno Auriemma

by Evan Sporer | 10:30 am, June 12th, 2012

Quick! What would be the most uncomfortable thing the most famous women’s basketball coach in America could be sued for? Time’s up! If you guessed “firing someone because your alleged sexual advances on them were turned down,” you win.

Such is the unfortunate situation currently faced by UConn head women’s basketball coach and seven-time national champion Geno Auriemma.

Kelley Hardwick, who worked security detail in the 2004 and 2008 Olympics, is alleging the 58-year-old Auriemma got a little frisky in a hotel back in 2009 during an international tournament. When Hardwick did not succumb to Geno’s pass, things seemed to calm down, but the UConn coach might have been holding a grudge. That was until this year, when Auriemma requested to have Hardwick removed from security detail for the Olympic games in London. Hardwick had this to say:

“I was willing to close this story in 2009,” Ms. Hardwick said in an interview last week. “If Geno had not interfered with my job and my livelihood, I would not have filed this lawsuit.”

A quick brief on Hardwick’s resume: the 46-year-old is a law school graduate and a former New York City undercover narcotics detective. At the very least, we’re going to assume she understands the importance of the law.

Hardwick also recounted the events that took place back in 2009 in the same report:

“He puts his hand on my left arm and goes to kiss me,” Ms. Hardwick said, referring to Mr. Auriemma. “I grabbed his face and mushed him.” She yelled at him, she said: “You better check yourself before you get hurt!”

Ah, the ol’ face mush and one-liner.

[CBS Sports via The New York Times]

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