University of Iowa emails offer few details in Coker suspension

Four days before former University of Iowa running back Marcus Coker announced he was leaving the football team, UI officials had a statement prepared declaring that Coker was enrolled for the spring semester and academically eligible.

That drafted statement, dated the afternoon of Friday, Jan. 6, was among the nine pages of emails and correspondence the university released Monday in response to open records requests from the media, including The Gazette, regarding the Coker suspension. Coker on Jan. 10 announced he was leaving the team.

The emails released Monday shed little light on the UI discussion regarding Coker's Dec. 20 suspension from participation in the Insight Bowl and his later decision to leave the UI. There was very little discussion among UI officials about the Coker situation contained in the emails released Monday.

UI officials on Monday said there are "additional documents that cannot be released because they are confidential" under a federal law called the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, or FERPA.

The Jan. 6 statement prepared by UI officials confirmed the university was aware of an Iowa City Police Department investigation of Coker for an alleged sexual assault Oct. 28, and that a decision to lift his suspension was "pending completion of a university process." No charges were filed in connection with the Oct. 28 incident.

That Jan. 6 statement read: "Marcus Coker was suspended from participation in the 2011 Insight Bowl for violation of the UI Athletic Department's Student-Athlete Code of Conduct. The decision to lift the suspension is pending completion of a university process. Coker is currently enrolled in classes for the 2012 spring semester at the UI. He is also currently academically eligible for participation in intercollegiate athletics."

It was emailed to numerous UI athletics officials on Jan. 6, with a note that it was prepared as the university's response to questions that may result from the expected release of the Iowa City police report. Tysen Kendig, UI vice president for strategic communications, responded in another email that officials should "please hold on this ... I am discussing with student life, as there is concern with the academic eligibility and university review process."

UI Spokesman Tom Moore on Monday said Kendig was concerned whether or not that information was protected by FERPA.

Coker Response Documents