Mike Locksley will probably take any victory he can at this point.
While his Lobos are 0-6 on the field, Locksley was dealt a favorable off-field result on Monday.
Locksley endured a very public battle after former administrative assistant Sylvia Lopez filed a sexual harassment complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Later, it was reported by the Albuquerque Journal that Lopez said she was replaced because Locksley wanted “younger gals” in the office to entice recruits.
Monday, the University said all legal claims, as well as the EEOC charges against Locksley, were withdrawn — contrary to the report from KRQE Channel 13, which said the EEOC deemed the allegations “unfounded.”
Both parties were able to resolve the dispute without the EEOC’s intervention, according to a University-issued press release.
When the Daily Lobo contacted Athletics Director Paul Krebs on Sunday, he didn’t substantiate what KRQE reported. Instead, he said he hadn’t heard about it.
“The EEOC complaint is about to be resolved,” Krebs said. “I wasn’t in the office on Friday, but we expected that to be resolved and something to be forthcoming soon.”
According to the press release, the University is looking forward to retaining Lopez’s services, but it didn’t specify where she would be working at the University.
“Ms. Lopez has always been a strong performer and a loyal employee, and we are looking forward to continuing her employment with us,” the release said. “We are glad to have had the chance to utilize the steps in our EEOC policy in this situation.
Resolving these issues amicably shows that the steps for resolution really do work when employees are equally as committed to using them as UNM is.”
Krebs, who earlier said the University and Locksley would be vindicated, said all parties involved can now put the issue behind them.
“We are pleased we could clear the air and everyone involved can move forward in a positive direction,” he said in the press release.
In the University-issued statement, Lopez recanted her previous position. She said that it’s unfortunate that the term “sexual harassment” was used in this case.
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“I truly wish the best for coach Locksley and hope he has a great season and career with UNM,” she said. “I regret that this misunderstanding may have created a negative perception of coach Locksley. I feel very positive about working for UNM and know I can be an asset to the University because of my years of experience and skills.”
In a joint statement, Krebs and President David Schmidly proclaimed their unswerving loyalty to the Lobos’ first-year head coach.
“We stand behind coach Locksley and know that he has performed, and continues to perform, his job in a professional and respectable manner and will do so in the future,” according to the statement.
