Boston University to Undergo ‘External Review’ of Athletic Department Policies After Alex Cooper’s Harassment Allegations

Boston University (BU) will conduct an “external review” of its athletics department following a slew of allegations of harassment against former women’s soccer coaches — including Alex Cooper’s allegations against former coach Nancy Feldman.

In a statement from BU on Thursday, June 26, the university said it would undergo “a new external review” of its athletic department’s policies. The announcement of an external review comes in the midst of mounting allegations of harassment and grooming surrounding the department.

PEOPLE reached out to BU for comment on Friday, June 27, but did not immediately hear back.

The Boston Globe reported that the review comes on the heels of a closer look at how the investigation into former women’s soccer coach Casey Brown was handled. Per the Globe, Brown was accused of grooming an anonymous BU teammate.

The player told the Globe that Brown “fawned” over her for more than two years. She allegedly recalled navigating a series of “awkward texts, unsettling invitations and unwanted attention.”

Brown, who denied those allegations, was placed on leave in October 2024 and resigned two months later in December. 

In their statement, BU said, “Within days of receiving those initial complaints, BU launched an external investigation and hired Phil Catanzano of Education & Sports Law Group to conduct a comprehensive examination of the situation. The investigation found no evidence of sexual harassment and no BU policy violations.”

“The University takes harassment and sexual harassment, as well as reporting, seriously,” the statement continued. “We look forward to an external review’s recommendations that can provide suggestions for continued improvements as we strive for excellence in our athletic program.”

Players on BU’s women’s soccer team have continued to come forward with allegations of harassment since Cooper, 30, alleged that she endured years of sexual harassment at the hands of her own coach, who retired in 2022.

The Call Her Daddy host shed light on the allegations in her Hulu docuseries, Call Her Alex. Cooper’s docuseries premiered at the Tribeca Festival in New York City on June 8, and she further detailed the situation during a Q&A at the project’s debut.

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“The minute I stepped back on that field, I felt so small,” Cooper said at the time.

In her documentary, she alleged that she noticed Feldman “really starting to fixate on me, way more than any other teammate of mine, and it was confusing,” during her sophomore year of college.

“[It] was all based in her wanting to know who I was dating, her making comments about my body and her always wanting to be alone with me,” Cooper further claimed in the docuseries.

“It was this psychotic game of, ‘You want to play? Tell me about your sex life,’ ” she also alleged, adding that Feldman would tell her, “I have to drive you to your night class. Get in the car with me alone.”

A representative for Cooper did not respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.