Ex-Northwestern AD Jim Phillips denies knowledge of hazing allegations

Former Northwestern athletics director and current ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips denied being aware of the hazing allegations that have rocked the university and college sports, saying in a statement Thursday, "I will vigorously defend myself against any suggestion to the contrary."

The school's athletics director from 2008-21 before leaving for the ACC, Phillips has been named as a defendant in two separate lawsuits filed this week on behalf of anonymous former Northwestern players who allege longstanding misconduct in the form of hazing and sexual abuse.

"This has been a difficult time for the Northwestern community, a place that my entire family called home," Phillips said in his statement. "Over my thirty-year career in intercollegiate athletics, my highest priority has always been the health and safety of all student-athletes. Hazing is completely unacceptable anywhere, and my heart goes out to anyone who carries the burden of having been mistreated.

"Any allegation that I ever conducted or tolerated inappropriate conduct against student-athletes is false."

When announcing his move from Northwestern to the ACC, conference board chair and Syracuse Chancellor Kent Syverud praised Phillips as "one of the most talented athletic administrators in the country."

What we know: Northwestern athletics hazing scandal

"Northwestern's ascension in the world of intercollegiate athletics is a testament to Jim's vision, leadership and foundational dedication to the success of student-athletes," Syverud said. "The ACC is fortunate to have someone of Jim's caliber and integrity lead the conference at this pivotal moment in intercollegiate athletics."

The multiple lawsuits already filed on behalf of former Northwestern players have focused on broader institutional issues within the athletics department. On Wednesday, civil rights and injury attorneys Ben Crump and Steven Levin appeared in Chicago with several former athletes, including former quarterback and wide receiver Lloyd Yates, and detailed an environment of mistreatment, bullying and retaliation.

"It is apparent to us that it is a toxic culture that was rampant in the athletics department at Northwestern University," Crump said. "What they shared with us was clearly a pattern and practice of a culture that was predicated on physical intimidation, harassment, discrimination, abuse both mentally and sexually, and it was normalized."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jim Phillips, ex-Northwestern AD, denies knowledge of hazing claims