Lars Jensen was affiliated with San Francisco State for four decades (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Lars Jensen, head wrestling coach at San Francisco State University for more than three decades, has filed a complaint against the school, alleging age discrimination, the San Francisco Examiner reported this week.
This summer, InterMat reported Jensen's contract was not renewed after 34 years at the helm of the NCAA Division II Gator wrestling program.
Last month, attorney Rob Jaret filed a discrimination complaint on Jensen's behalf with the U.S. Department of Fair Employment and Housing, alleging age and racial discrimination by the athletic department at San Francisco State.
Jaret alleged that SFSU director of athletics Charles Guthrie had told Jensen that he didn't recruit enough black wrestlers. As for age, Jensen first came to the SFSU Gators program as a wrestler in 1977. The school recently announced the hiring of 27-year-old Jason Welch, an NCAA All-American at Northwestern, as head coach.
When contacted by InterMat for comment, Jensen confirmed that his attorney had filed a complaint against his former employer on his behalf, but had been advised not to discuss any further.
As for San Francisco State ... a spokesperson for the school issued a written statement, saying, "We deny discrimination played any role in the process. All coaches at San Francisco State serve one-year terms. As a part of an overall evaluation of the wrestling program, we opened the position for national search. The University chose the best possible candidate for the coaching position based on the qualifications of all applicants."
The U.S. Department of Fair Employment and Housing is investigating Jensen's complaint. His attorney expects the department to complete its case on the matter and from there he's confident he'll be granted the right to sue. Jaret predicted a suit to be filed against the university in San Francisco Superior Court in early 2018.
Background on Guthrie
In addition to revealing the complaint filed on behalf of former SFSU head wrestling coach Lars Jensen, the San Francisco Examiner provided a portrait of Charles Guthrie, the AD who fired Jensen.
The newspaper described Guthrie was "an agent of change at the university" since his arrival in July 2014. For example, the SFSU basketball program scored its best record in the modern era, earning a trip to the NCAA D2 championships. The women's track and field team claimed the school's female national championships. The Examiner also claimed that academic performance had improved in the three years Guthrie was AD. In addition, fundraising efforts had also been enhanced.
Jensen isn't the only former coach who has issues with Guthrie. Mike Cummins, long-time baseball coach at San Francisco State, has filed a grievance, claiming that Guthrie destroyed more than 30 years of personal papers -- coaching records, as well as documents of sentimental value from his late father -- without permission or explanation.
Guthrie is no longer connected to SFSU. Just this week, he accepted the athletic director's position at University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, an NCAA Division I school.
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