Last week, college football insider Brett McMurphy reported that Southern Utah’s athletic department is under federal investigation for potential Title IX violations across multiple sports.
This news has since caused commotion through the small Division I program, with sources describing the department’s environment as “absolutely toxic.” Title IX, a federal law established in 1972, prevents sex-based discrimination in educational programs, including athletics.
Southern Utah Football Under Scrutiny as Feds Probe Entire Athletic Department
Southern Utah University has been part of the WAC since officially joining in 2022, with its football team competing in the UAC. According to McMurphy’s report, the entire athletic department is under review.
Southern Utah’s athletic department is under investigation for potential Title IX violations in multiple sports, sources said. The entire department is under review, a source said. “It’s toxic, absolutely toxic.” The Division I Thunderbirds compete in WAC in all sports but…
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) May 2, 2025
While the specifics of the violations remain unclear, the investigation’s scope suggests systemic problems beyond isolated incidents. This investigation will challenge their on-field efforts, creating an impression that might overshadow all the hard work they have put into developing their teams.
The football program, particularly, has drawn attention due to its prominence within the athletic department. In recent years, Southern Utah football has had its share of ups and downs, including a dramatic 27-24 overtime win against UTEP in Week 2 of the 2024 season.
However, off-field issues now emerged. The kind of investigations, which often uncover issues like unequal treatment of male and female athletes, inadequate responses to sexual misconduct, or failures in leadership to enforce compliance.
Southern Utah Athletic Director Doug Knuth, who has been in leadership since January 2023, is not new to Title IX controversies. Before arriving at Southern Utah, he served as the athletic director for the Nevada Wolf Pack from 2013 to 2022.
His tenure there ended suddenly when he was fired in April 2022, following an investigation that uncovered significant Title IX issues within Nevada’s athletic department.
The investigation underscored accusations of gender inequities, which include disparities in facilities and financial support for female athletes, as well as claims that Knuth favored male hires for key roles and paid them more than their female counterparts.
Additionally, Knuth’s time at Nevada was marred by personal misconduct allegations, including an inappropriate relationship with a cheerleading coach while married.
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The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights had also launched an investigation into Nevada’s athletic department in 2019, in response to complaints of sex-based discrimination.
When Knuth was let go, Nevada paid him a $308,000 buyout to part ways, a decision that raised eyebrows given the ongoing scrutiny.
His move to Southern Utah was seen as a fresh start, but the current investigation may suggest that the same issues may have followed him.
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