The author of this article is investigating how youth sports organizations have failed to protect kids from sexual abuse and has found that one major nonprofit organization, the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), has allowed coaches banned for misconduct to continue working with young athletes. The author identified eight AAU coaches who are still working despite being banned by SafeSport, a center created by Congress to prevent abuse in sports. The AAU claims it is committed to protecting its athletes through comprehensive policies, but the article highlights the case of Ryan Richardson, a Texas volleyball coach who was suspended and then continued coaching before being investigated by Homeland Security. The author invites readers with information about abusive coaches or youth sports organizations to share their stories anonymously.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-04,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
A Texas volleyball coach, Ryan Richardson, is under investigation by the Department of Homeland Security for child exploitation. The investigation was launched after ProPublica and The Washington Post reported on allegations of misconduct against Richardson, including a claim that he had a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old player beginning in 2022. Despite being suspended from his coaching position in early 2025, Richardson continued to work with young athletes under the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU). The AAU has stated that it is committed to protecting its athletes through comprehensive protection policies overseen by its Compliance Department, but has not commented on Richardson's specific case. The U.S. Center for SafeSport had previously ruled Richardson "permanently ineligible" and listed him on its public disciplinary list due to findings of an intimate relationship with a minor, sexual misconduct involving a minor, and physical misconduct and bullying.
Written for “Abuse of Power by Coaches” on 2026-09-05,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
Leaning score -0.35 for article 4122 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-09-04
For more than a year now, I’ve been investigating how youth sports organizations have failed to protect kids from sexual abuse, and the gaps in the system that have allowed coaches banned for misconduct to keep working with young athletes.
asserted
coaches → investigate → athletes
So far, I’ve shown that one major nonprofit sports organization, the Amateur Athletic Union, has become a haven for coaches accused of abuse.
asserted
organization → show → abuse
I identified eight coaches who are still working with kids under the AAU despite having been banned by SafeSport, a center created by Congress to protect kids from abuse in sports that has a public list anyone can check.
asserted
anyone → identify → list
The AAU has said it does not comment on individual cases but in a statement said that it is “committed to protecting its athletes through comprehensive protection policies overseen by our Compliance Department.”
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it → say → Department
I also told the story of a Texas volleyball coach named Ryan Richardson, who continued coaching despite having been banned by SafeSport and is now under investigation by the Department of Homeland Security.
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who → tell → Security
Richardson did not respond to multiple requests for comment on ProPublica and The Washington Post’s reporting, or an email seeking comment about the Homeland Security investigation.
asserted
Richardson → respond → investigation
When he was first suspended in 2024, Richardson told the local news website MyRGV that complaints about him were an effort to “retaliate and defame someone’s character,” and he said he “would never do anything to risk the physical or mental wellbeing of these strong young ladies.”
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he → suspend → ladies
I’m still reporting, and I want to hear from you.
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I → report → you
I know these are sensitive topics that can be difficult to discuss.
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that → know → ?
I also know how important these stories are.
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stories → know → ?
If you know about a coach on the SafeSport list who is still working with kids, or you have other experiences with how youth sports organizations have handled abuse allegations, please fill out our brief questionnaire.
asserted
organizations → know → questionnaire
I’m particularly interested in:
- Finding instances of coaches who are continuing to work with kids after being banned by SafeSport.
asserted
who → find → SafeSport
- Better understanding how abusive coaches manipulate and deceive parents.
- Learning about coaching abuse, safety and misconduct in basketball, in which SafeSport has far less influence compared with many other popular youth sports.
asserted
SafeSport → understand → sports
We take your privacy seriously and will contact you if we wish to publish any part of your story.
asserted
we → take → story
