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A member of the Long Beach State coaching staff will no longer be a part of the team as it prepares to compete in the NCAA Tournament.
Long Beach State announced on Wednesday evening that assistant coach Scott Touzinsky opted to leave the program.
This decision comes days following a report in the Orange County Register that Touzinsky has been suspended from USA Volleyball events and was under investigation for sexual misconduct by the U.S. Center for SafeSport. The investigation that examined allegations from 2013 concluded last week with Touzinsky receiving a formal warning and being declared eligible to return to USA Volleyball events, according to the Orange County Register report.
“I feel that my continued presence on the coaching staff would be a distraction during what is a critical time for the team,” Touzinsky said in a statement. “I do not make this decision lightly, but I believe this is the best course of action for the benefit of Long Beach State Men’s Volleyball. I am so proud of this team and I am so honored to have been part of this amazing program. This has been a remarkable journey.”
The defending national champions Long Beach State earned the No. 2 seed to the NCAA Tournament and a bye to the NCAA Tournament semifinals that will be played Thursday, May 2 on its home court.
Touzinsky joined the Long Beach State coaching staff in 2017 and the following year helped lead the 49ers to their first NCAA championship in 28 years. Along with his coaching experience, Touzinsky as a player was an All-American for the 49ers and won a gold medal with the United States at the 2008 Olympics.