Three members of the Alabama Crimson Tide baseball coaching staff are being sued for allegedly mishandling a former player’s injury.
According to court documents filed in Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court, coach Brad Bohannon, pitching coach Jason Jackson, and track trainer Sean Stryker face a lawsuit for wanton, alleged negligence, and breach of agreement for their handling of the injury. on the arm of former pitcher Johnny Blake Bennett.
The defense seeks to dismiss the claim. A hearing is scheduled for June 20.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
An Alabama Crimson Tide ball in a dugout during a game in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, May 10, 2014. (John Korduner/Icon SMI/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
«The university does not comment on pending litigation, but looks forward to sharing the actual facts with the court,» the school’s athletic department said in a prepared statement.
«The mental and physical well-being of its student-athletes is of the utmost importance to the university. We have supreme confidence in our coaching staff and provide our student-athletes with access to the best sports medicine staff and sports psychology professionals in the country. «
NORTH CAROLINA COACH MACK BROWN SAYS COLLEGE FOOTBALL ‘WILL NEVER SEE AMATEURISM AGAIN’
According to the complaint, a couple of weeks after Bennett was injured, he began to have difficulty controlling his pitches. The lawsuit alleges that Bohannon, Jackson and Stryker played a role in the mismanagement of Bennett’s recovery.
An Alabama Crimson Tide cap in the dugout during a game between Alabama and the LSU Tigers on May 12, 2018 at Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (John Korduner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The lawsuit also claims that Bennett repeatedly told the coaches and the trainer that he had some type of problem with his arm.
«God, I really wish I could talk about some of the details. I really wish I could. But unfortunately, you know, I can’t,» Bohannon said Friday.
«I truly believe that we provide our student-athletes with access to the best sports medicine and sports psychology resources in the country, and you know, this is the third SEC school I’ve been to, and I would put our sports medicine staff up against any school in the country and even professional organizations. They’re just outstanding. We place great importance on the mental and physical well-being of our student-athletes, so that’s all I have to say on that.»
The SEC logo in a first round game of the 2015 SEC baseball tournament between Alabama and Ole Miss. (Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Bennett was ultimately diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome and underwent surgery in March 2020. The pitcher alleges that Bohannon informed him in May that the school decided not to renew his athletic scholarship.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Bennett transferred to Pensacola State College but eventually withdrew from the school. He later enrolled at Jacksonville State University, however he was fired in May 2022.
Bennett and the Gamecocks played in Alabama just two days before he was fired.