Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Sexual Abuse Lawsuit [2026 Update]

The AAU Lawsuit is an Active Lawsuit

See if You Qualify

The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) could face civil lawsuits after media investigations found evidence that the organization failed to protect underage athletes from sexual abuse and misled the public about safeguards. King Law is currently investigating child sexual abuse claims against the AAU. 

Currently, the cases represent an emerging group of claims made by individuals and institutions rather than consolidated class action or multidistrict litigation (MDL). Complicating the proceedings are the AAU’s arbitration clauses, which could require legal claims against the company to be settled through private arbitration. This page will outline the current state of the child sexual abuse claims against the AAU and how parents and survivors can go about pursuing lawsuits.

About the AAU Child Sexual Abuse Lawsuit:

AAU Youth Sports Abuse Lawsuit News and Updates

August 13, 2026 – Media Investigation Finds Widespread Abuse, Lack of Safety Measures at AAU

The Washington Post and ProPublica co-published an expose on the AAU, finding that the organization failed to implement promised reforms in the 15 years following the AAU’s 2011 sexual abuse scandal. Among the findings: the AAU does not offer child abuse prevention training and continues to work with coaches who have been banned or suspended by other youth sports organizations. It also found little evidence that the AAU had written processes for dealing with abuse accusations. The expose also noted that the group’s arbitration clauses served to keep sexual abuse claims out of the public eye.

2024-2025 – Florida Sex Abuse Claim Against AAU Settled Through Arbitration

The 2026 expose found that the AAU had used private arbitration to settle sexual abuse claims as recently as 2024. It cites an allegation by a teenage girl in Florida who claimed to have been sexually abused by her volleyball coach. The investigators claim the AAU declined to comment on the practice. 

May 17, 2023 – Wisconsin Supreme Court Dismisses Sexual Abuse Case Against AAU

The Wisconsin Supreme Court overturned a lower court ruling that would have allowed the lawsuit of a woman claiming she was sexually abused by a basketball coach in the 1990s to proceed. The woman had alleged that the Amateur Athletic Union had negligently hired and supervised her abuser. The court ruled that the case was time-barred as the woman was not suing a religious organization or the direct perpetrator. 

July 29, 2022 – Class Action Lawsuit Against Barnstormers Secures $1 Million

A civil class action lawsuit filed by a victim of Greg Stephen, who was convicted on multiple counts of sexual misconduct in 2019, reaches a settlement of over $1 million with the Barnstormers basketball team. While the AAU and Adidas America were also named in the lawsuit, these two defendants managed to move their portions of the lawsuit into private arbitration per the contract terms signed by the players. 

May 3, 2019 – Former AAU Coach Sentenced To 180 Years For Sex-Related Crimes

A court sentences prominent AAU basketball coach Greg Stephen to 180 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation charges involving 440 boys over a 20-year period. Stephen had collected sexual material featuring the boys by posing as a teenage girl online and using hidden cameras in bathrooms, hotels, and his home. He also sexually molested at least 15 boys during that period. Stephen cofounded the Iowa Barnstormers and regularly competed in AAU-sanctioned events.

February 18, 2018 – AAU Voids Coach’s Membership After Multiple Accusations

The Amateur Athletic Union voids volleyball coach Rick Butler’s membership following multiple accusations and an internal investigation. Butler had previously been the subject of a Chicago Sun-Times investigation and was banned from coaching girls by USA Volleyball in 1995 (though the ban was partially rescinded in 2000). Lawsuits against Butler accuse him of sexually abusing at least six girls.

June 12, 2012 – AAU Vows to Implement “Historic” Child Protection Measures

The AAU issues a release outlining child protection measures recommended by its task forces in the wake of ongoing sexual abuse scandals. Among the recommendations cited are the creation of a culture of child protection, screening procedures for adults, and excluding individuals who may pose a threat to children even if they have not been convicted of a crime. It also suggests the AAU adopt training and reporting protocols to address sexual abuse within the organization. 

December 11, 2011 – Head of AAU Accused of Sexual Abuse

Two former basketball players accuse former Amateur Athletic Union president and CEO Robert Dodd of sexually molesting them in the 1980s, when he was director of the Memphis YMCA. AAU officers claimed they received anonymous abuse claims which they turned over to a private investigator, eventually referring them to the Memphis police. Dodd is widely credited with building the AAU into a powerful national brand, allowing anyone who paid the AAU’s membership fee to start a team and access its liability insurance. Dodd denied the allegations, but stepped down as president.

May 7, 2004 – Investigation Finds Multiple Felons Among AAU Coaches

The Seattle Times and AAU find 38 individuals among the AAU’s 65,000 coaches who were convicted of crimes ranging from murder to incest, theft, and drug-related activities. The AAU stated that it relied on voluntary disclosure to identify individuals convicted of a felony or sex crime. The AAU cited costs and difficulties tracking convictions as the reasons for the policy.

About the AAU and Child Sexual Abuse Lawsuits

Founded in 1888, the Amateur Athletic Union is a non-profit sports organization that promotes and supports youth sports and fitness programs outside of school systems. Prior to the 1978 Amateur Sports Act, the AAU was the governing body for most amateur sports in the U.S. Today, the organization is headquartered in Lake Buena Vista, FL, and oversees 55 regional districts composed of member clubs and leagues. Players, coaches, and volunteers purchase annual memberships individually. 

The child sexual abuse claims against the AAU allege that adult members, such as coaches, engaged in sexual misconduct with youth players. While the perpetrators may face criminal charges, both the perpetrators and the AAU can be named in civil claims, as institutions responsible for the child’s well-being can be named as defendants. Lawsuits will allege that the AAU failed to adequately screen its adult members, warn parents of any risks, or follow up on credible accusations. The organization may even be accused of covering up abuse.

What Did the 2026 Investigation Into AAU Abuse Uncover?

The August 13, 2026, ProPublica and Washington Post investigation provides an in-depth overview of the ongoing scandals and allegations of negligence against the AAU, some of which date back decades. Investigators with the publications combed through thousands of pages of documents. Among their findings:

• Many of the AAU’s task force recommendations from 2012 have not been implemented, including mandatory abuse-prevention training, a functioning reporting system, or transparent disciplinary processes.
• A promised abuse hotline simply redirected to the AAU’s general office line with no menu option to report abuse.
• Eight coaches appear to have continued working with AAU-affiliated teams after being banned or suspended from other sports organizations.
• The AAU operates outside of the guidelines set up by the U.S. Center for SafeSport and is not required to recognize its suspensions or bans.
• The AAU became a refuge for coaches accused in other organizations.
• Registration agreements signed by members force abuse claims into private arbitration. Sexual abuse claims made after March 3, 2022, are federally prohibited from being forced into arbitration.

The Post and ProPublica followed up on the expose with a feature focusing on Texas girls’ volleyball coach and former AAU member Ryan Richardson on August 20, 2026.

Which AAU Coaches and Officials Have Faced Abuse Allegations?

A number of AAU coaches and officials have faced abuse allegations over the years, including Bobby Dodd, Rick Butler, Matt Williams, Gregory Stephen, Danny Lawhorn Jr., Ryan Richardson, and Elias Perez. Though this list is not exhaustive, it includes some of the most prominent cases involving AAU members. 

Bobby Dodd

Robert “Bobby” Dodd served as president and CEO of the AAU from 1992 to 2011, when he was removed from his position after being accused of sexually abusing two boys when he was a youth basketball coach in the 1980s. Criminal charges were never brought against Dodd, who denied them, but the incident spurred the creation of task forces to address oversights in the AAU’s reporting policies.

Rick Butler

Rick Butler, an influential youth volleyball coach in Illinois, was accused of having sexual relations with three underage female players when he was in his 20s. The accusations were considered credible by USA Volleyball, which issued a lifetime ban on the coach in 1995. The organization reversed course in 2000, allowing him a conditional, administrative membership. He did, however, coach under his AAU membership until his 2018 ban.

Matt Williams

Matt Williams, founder of Jam On It and AAU vice president, was accused by former basketball player Ashlee Orndorff of sexually abusing her, beginning when she was 15. Williams was her coach at the time. Williams denied abusing Orndorff but admitted to fathering a child with her who was born when she was 19. The child was born just a year out from when Williams had coached Orndorff, a violation of the organization’s policies. Despite witnesses and written accounts, the Board of Review cleared Williams and reinstated him in May 2018. Williams settled a civil suit with Orndorff in 2023 before dying of cancer in 2024.

Gregory Stephen

Gregory Stephen, a longtime coach and director of the Iowa Barnstormers, was sentenced to 180 years in federal prison for possessing sexually explicit images of at least 440 boys. He pled guilty to five counts of sexual exploitation of a child, one count of possession of child pornography, and one count of transportation of child pornography. Survivors also sued Stephen, the AAU, and sponsor Adidas in a class action lawsuit, though the AAU’s portion of the case was ultimately forced into private arbitration. 

Danny Lawhorn Jr.

In 2021, a 17-year-old Canadian player participating in the AAU’s Bria Holmes Elite Girls Basketball Program accused Connecticut basketball coach Danny Lawhorn Jr. of sexually assaulting her. A Hartford jury convicted him of second-degree sexual assault under a state statute prohibiting sexual intercourse between a coach and an athlete under 18. Two other women have since come forward with accusations against Lawhorn. 

Ryan Richardson

Ryan Richardson is the owner and head coach of Texas Fierce Elite, a girls’ volleyball team. Richardson has, to date, faced suspensions over inappropriate conduct ranging from inappropriate social media posts to sexual relationships with underage girls. Lone Star Region Volleyball suspended Richardson in 2024, and SafeSport designated him as “permanently ineligible” to coach. However, ProPublica reported that he was still coaching as of August 20. Though the AAU apparently banned him in 2024, ProPublica reports the AAU’s member directory does list a girls’ volleyball club at the address of Richardson’s gym.

Elias Perez

Volleyball player Aleesa Bravata claims her former coach Elias Perez groomed and touched her inappropriately when she was a minor. Bravata reported the matter to SafeSport, which suspended Perez, barring him from USA Volleyball. However, Perez was still coaching girls in 2025 at Balboa Bay. Balboa Bay had memberships with both USA Volleyball and AAU; the ban did not apply to the latter. The team eventually stopped Perez from coaching girls, but continued to let him coach boys on AAU-affiliated teams for several months before firing him.

How Did the AAU Respond to Claims of Sexual Abuse?

The AAU officially has policies for handling claims of sexual abuse, many of which follow the recommendations from the 2012 task forces. These include:

• Mandatory screening of adult non-athlete members
• Conduct standards for athletes that prohibit sexual abuse
• Prohibiting retaliation against reports of abuse made in good faith
• Mandatory abuse prevention training for non-athletes
• Limiting 1:1 interactions outside of emergency situations and/or making them observable to third parties
• Standards for physical contact between athletes and adult staff
• Standards for digital communication between coaches and athletes
• Conduct standards for travel and locker rooms
• Restrictions on out-of-program contact and gift giving
• Reporting guidelines for abuse along with a report form and phone number 833-SAFE-AAU that is staffed on weekdays during normal business hours ET.

However, the Post and ProPublica report found that, while the policies exist, they do not appear to be consistently enforced. For example, the expose could not find evidence that the mandatory trainings were provided or that disciplinary procedures were consistently followed. These discrepancies may put AAU youth athletes at risk.

How Does Sexual Abuse in AAU Impact Young Athletes?

Sexual abuse can have long-lasting damaging effects on young athletes. A 2024 meta-analysis found correlations between childhood sexual abuse and:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• PTSD
• Suicidal ideation
• Self-injury
• Anger
• Substance abuse
• Sex-related behaviors

For athletes in particular, non-accidental violence (including sexual abuse) may also lead to impaired performance, doping, willingness to cheat, or dropping out of the sport entirely. However, every survivor’s experience is different. Survivors are at a higher risk for developing these symptoms and conditions, but not every survivor will develop them.

Who Qualifies to File an AAU Sexual Abuse Lawsuit?

There currently are no nationwide criteria for filing an AAU sexual abuse lawsuit. However, criteria for filing such a lawsuit are likely to require that:

• The claimant is or was an athlete member of the AAU.
• The claimant was sexually abused as a minor by an adult AAU member or an adult affiliated with the AAU.
• The claim falls within the statute of limitations of the plaintiff’s jurisdiction.
• Parents may be able to file if their child is still a minor or incapacitated.

As investigations into sexual abuse in the AAU develop, more precise criteria will likely emerge. Consult with an experienced sexual abuse attorney for a full evaluation of your case and your options.

What Evidence Is Needed to File an AAU Abuse Lawsuit?

Your personal deposition is the minimum evidence needed to begin a sexual abuse lawsuit, but evidence that supports your narrative will help your case. Evidence relevant to a claim against the AAU may include:

• Proof of AAU affiliation or membership 
• Proof of defendant’s AAU affiliation or membership
• Texts
• Emails
• Social media messages
• Photographs
• Witness statements
• Records of previous complaints
• Records of defendant’s suspension or banning from other organizations
• Police reports
• Medical or counseling records

Avoid deleting any correspondence between yourself and the defendant as it may be valuable evidence in a lawsuit.

What Is the Deadline to File an AAU Lawsuit for Sexual Abuse?

There is no universal deadline for filing an AAU lawsuit for sexual abuse, as there currently is no consolidated MDL against the organization. Your case must be filed within the statute of limitations, which varies by state, your age, discovery clauses, and the defendant being sued. Many states have recently expanded, or even eliminated, their statutes of limitations for childhood sex abuse. 

However, these expansions are not retroactive. In some cases, states do offer a temporary lookback window during which survivors whose cases would otherwise be time-barred can file a claim. Due to the complexity of these laws, it is advisable to consult with an attorney to discuss your options for filing an AAU lawsuit for sexual abuse.

King Law Is Investigating AAU Child Sexual Abuse Claims

King Law is actively investigating claims of child sexual abuse by AAU-affiliated adults, including officials, coaches, and volunteers. Our trauma-informed attorneys can help identify whether the team or event was formally affiliated with the AAU and preserve relevant evidence. Additionally, King Law can evaluate arbitration provisions you may have signed as an athlete member and determine which filing deadlines apply to your situation. Our consultations are fully confidential.

Contact Robert King Law Firm for a Free Consultation

Contact Robert King Law Firm today at 585-270-8882, or fill out a form on this site, for a free, trauma-informed, and confidential consultation if you are a survivor of childhood sexual abuse by an AAU-affiliated adult. Our attorneys will evaluate your case, outline your options and deadlines, and advise you on what evidence to preserve. There’s no obligation to file a claim unless you wish to.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)