RIVER FOREST, Ill. (Sun-Times Media Wire) -
Concordia University Chicago announced this week that it released a former baseball coach two years ago following allegations of sexual misconduct, Pioneer Press is reporting.
In a letter sent out Wednesday, Concordia President John Johnson announced the details of the firing of former baseball coach Spiro Lempesis.
In the letter, Johnson said an employee of the school, located at 7400 Augusta St. in River Forest, was made aware of suspected inappropriate sexual conduct involving the former coach.
"The reported misconduct did not involve minors," Johnson wrote. "The employee immediately brought these concerns to his supervisors and campus leadership, and within hours, the head coach was suspended and barred from campus."
Lempesis was terminated Sept. 27, 2010, following 10 years with the university. At the time, no explanation was given and no one would discuss the matter.
"In an effort to protect the privacy of those who had been subjected to the head coach's conduct, we encouraged our students, their parents and our employees with knowledge of the conduct to refrain from commenting publicly about the matter," Johnson wrote.
Concordia learned recently that Lempesis was arrested in a nearby county, Johnson said, though no charges were brought.
The university has brought on Patrick Collins, former assistant U. S. States Attorney, to conduct an independent investigation of the original allegations and the university's handling of the matter. It expects that investigation to be done by the end of the year.
"I am announcing this action today because of the recent alleged incident involving the former head coach and our determination to contribute, in whatever way possible, to the continued well-being of the university and its surrounding communities," Johnson wrote.
Johnson said no other details would be released, to maintain the integrity of the investigation.
