Attorneys are investigating allegations of sexual abuse involving Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) youth sports programs.

If you or your child were sexually abused by an AAU coach, staff member or official while a member of the AAU or an AAU-affiliated sports team, you may be eligible to pursue a sexual abuse lawsuit.

What to know about the AAU sexual abuse lawsuit

• Core Issue: Attorneys are investigating allegations of child sex abuse involving coaches, staff members and officials connected to the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) and AAU-affiliated sports teams.

• Who it Affects: People who experienced sexual abuse as minors while participating in AAU or an AAU-affiliated sports team.

• Harm/Impact: Childhood sexual abuse can have lasting emotional, psychological and financial effects, including ongoing expenses for therapy and mental health care.

• Legal Status: Attorneys are investigating whether those affected may be able to pursue a sexual abuse lawsuit and seek compensation.

• Take Action: If you or your child experienced sexual abuse while participating in AAU youth sports, fill out the form on this page to learn whether you may qualify.

What is the AAU sexual abuse lawsuit about?

Attorneys are investigating claims against the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) on behalf of people who experienced sexual abuse as minors while participating in AAU or AAU-affiliated sports programs.

These allegations include claims that:

• The AAU publicly stated that child safety and welfare were “paramount” but failed to properly respond to reports of abuse involving coaches and officials
• The AAU described its abuse prevention training as “mandatory,” even though the training allegedly did not meet the standards of the federal Safe Sport Act 
• Rather than providing a dedicated option for reporting child sex abuse, like it claimed to, the AAU’s abuse reporting hotline directed callers to its general office line
• Abuse reports were handled internally without written standards for when coaches should be suspended or banned
• The AAU allowed some coaches it knew were banned or suspended from other youth sports organizations for sexual misconduct to continue working with young athletes 

Attorneys are now investigating whether the AAU’s alleged failures put young athletes at risk and whether people who experienced sexual abuse through its programs may be entitled to compensation.

Case updates

Legal status as of September 2026

• September 2026: Attorneys are actively investigating sexual abuse claims involving the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) and AAU-affiliated sports programs.
• August 2026: The Washington Post and ProPublica published investigative reports that raised concerns about how AAU handles reports of sexual abuse, including allegedly allowing at least eight coaches to continue working with children after being banned or suspended by other sports organizations.
• September 2024: A Connecticut jury found former AAU basketball coach Danny Lawhorn Jr. guilty of second-degree sexual assault involving a player under 18. Lawhorn was sentenced in November 2024 to 10 years in prison, followed by 10 years of probation. 
• May 2019: Former Iowa AAU basketball coach Greg Stephen was sentenced to 180 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to sexual exploitation of a minor as well as child pornography charges.
• February 2019: AAU coach Kevin Jimenez pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a 12-year-old basketball player.
• February 2018: The AAU removed Rick Butler from his AAU role after concluding an investigation that it had launched in 2015. Butler had previously been the subject of other investigations, including an investigation by the Chicago Sun-Times, which found that Butler had inappropriate contact with multiple underage girls. The AAU allowed Butler to work with children even after USA Volleyball banned him in 1995.  
• December 2011: Two former youth basketball players accused then-AAU President Robert “Bobby” Dodd of sexually abusing them decades earlier when he was their coach. Although he stepped down from his role as president, Dodd denied the allegations and was not criminally charged.

This page was last reviewed and updated in September 2026 to reflect the latest case developments.

How child sex abuse in AAU sports programs can cause harm

Child sexual abuse can have lasting effects that continue long after the abuse ends. When the person responsible is a trusted coach, staff member or official, that betrayal can also affect how a person views relationships, authority figures and their own sense of safety.

• Education and Work: Emotional and psychological effects of childhood sexual abuse can make it difficult to concentrate, attend school or work consistently, potentially affecting education and employment later in life.
• Relationships and Trust: Abuse by a trusted adult can make it difficult to trust others, maintain close relationships or feel safe around people in positions of authority.
• Mental Health: People who experience child sex abuse may develop anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or other mental health conditions that affect their daily lives and well-being.
• Financial Costs: Therapy and other mental health care can create significant expenses, particularly when someone needs treatment or counseling for an extended period.
• Physical Harm: Sexual abuse and physical assault can cause injuries that may require medical care and, in some cases, result in lasting pain or long-term health problems.

If you or your child experienced sexual abuse while participating in an AAU or AAU-affiliated sports program, fill out the form on this page to learn whether you may qualify for an AAU lawsuit.

Concerns about AAU athlete safety policies

Recent investigative reporting has raised questions about whether the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) had adequate systems in place to prevent sexual abuse and respond when concerns were reported.

Questions about abuse prevention training

The AAU previously promoted mandatory abuse prevention training for coaches and volunteers. However, The Washington Post and ProPublica reported that the training focused on general coaching practices and was not designed to meet federal training requirements.

Coaches banned by other organizations

AAU passed a rule that stated that people who are ineligible to work with other amateur sports organizations may also be ineligible to work with AAU programs. However, that rule was never formally adopted or implemented. Investigative reporting found instances in which coaches continued working in AAU programs after being banned or suspended by other sports organizations, raising questions about how those restrictions were identified and enforced.

Concerns about the abuse reporting hotline

The AAU announced a hotline for reporting suspected child abuse as part of its athlete safety efforts. Despite its stated purpose, the hotline did not provide callers with a dedicated option for reporting sexual abuse and instead connected them with the AAU’s general office.

How abuse reports were reviewed

According to investigative reporting, allegations involving AAU coaches, staff members and officials were reviewed by an internal Board of Review. This board did not have written standards for determining when someone accused of misconduct should be suspended or banned.

Fill out the form on this page to see if you qualify for a free case evaluation.