Seton Hall University is facing a new lawsuit after a former baseball player accused the school of severe hazing, abuse, and misconduct during his freshman year in 2024.
The lawsuit, filed by an individual identified only as “John Doe,” was submitted to federal court on Wednesday. The suit names Seton Hall University, head baseball coach Rob Sheppard, and three former teammates (referred to by initials only) as defendants. The complaint claims that the plaintiff suffered coerced sexual exposure, physical assault, sexualized rituals, and retaliatory ostracism, which created a hostile and unsafe environment. The lawsuit further asserts that these actions caused significant physical, emotional, academic, and professional harm to the plaintiff. The individual is reported to reside in Suffolk County, New York, though his full identity remains anonymous.
In response to inquiries from Gannett New Jersey, Seton Hall University declined to comment, with spokesperson Michael Hyland stating, “Seton Hall University has no comment on this litigation.” Seton Hall’s athletic department spokesperson, Thomas Chen, directed all inquiries to Hyland.
The lawsuit outlines several disturbing allegations, including:
- The plaintiff was forced to expose his genitals to the team in the locker room while enduring degrading comments.
- He was involved in a violent makeshift wrestling match where he was thrown to the ground, dragged, placed in a chokehold, and sustained physical injuries, including cuts and scars that persist months later.
- The plaintiff was pressured to participate in a ritual where teammates performed inappropriate acts in front of the team in the locker room.
The complaint claims that the plaintiff and his father reported the hazing to Coach Sheppard, who allegedly promised to address the issue but took no action. It also accuses Seton Hall of being aware of similar hazing incidents in the baseball program before the plaintiff’s arrival, but failing to take corrective action. Furthermore, the lawsuit suggests that allegations of hazing in Seton Hall’s women’s sports programs, including softball and volleyball, are investigated more thoroughly than those involving male teams.
The lawsuit seeks compensatory damages, with a minimum claim of $1,000,000.
Coach Rob Sheppard has led Seton Hall’s baseball team since 2004, with a current record of 602-518-4, including 247-259 in the Big East. This season, the team finished with a 24-30 record, 10-11 in the conference. Seton Hall baseball has not made the NCAA Tournament since 2011, despite being a dominant force in the 1970s through 1990s.
This lawsuit adds to a series of ongoing legal challenges for Seton Hall University. In February, the university filed a lawsuit against its former president, Joseph Nyre, accusing him of unlawfully accessing and distributing confidential documents after his resignation. Nyre filed his own lawsuit in 2024, alleging harassment.
Meanwhile, Seton Hall’s current president, Msgr. Joseph Reilly, has been under scrutiny due to allegations that he failed to report abuse claims during his previous tenure at the seminary. Cardinal Joseph Tobin of the Archdiocese of Newark announced in February that a law firm, Ropes & Gray LLP, would investigate the circumstances surrounding Reilly’s appointment as president.
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