Texas Southern University's athletic director, Kevin Granger, has been fired less than a year after he was sued for allegedly assaulting a university staff member.
In a statement, TSU said the decision to terminate Granger came after the university conducted two independent administrative inquiries into the allegations. Granger had previously been placed on leave by the university in June 2025 after theallegations came to light in a lawsuitfiled by the alleged victim.
"These inquiries unfolded over several months during which time the university focused on ensuring that the rights and protections of the parties involved were observed,” the university wrote in a statement.
Granger had worked for the historically Black university in Houston for more than 30 years. He was also a former athlete, and the university had displayed Grander’s retired jersey banner in its Health and Physical Education Arena.
The university said the jersey banner was removed earlier this month, before his termination.
"Dr. Granger's accomplishments as a student-athlete remain recognized through his inclusion in the Texas Southern University Sports Hall of Fame, where all inductees are selected through a vote of the Texas Southern University Sports Hall of Fame Committee," the university said.
In a statement Thursday to Houston Public Media, Granger's attorney, Letitia Quinones-Hollins, said the accusations were "not substantiated."
"Additionally, the Harris County District Attorney’s Office did not file any charges against Dr. Granger," Quinones-Hollins said. "In essence, the DA found there was not sufficient evidence to charge him with any crime."
Quinones-Hollins said it was "disappointing and disheartening" that Granger was terminated following his more than three decades at the university.
"It is unfortunate that his stellar reputation has been tarnished by a financially motivated litigant, but he intends to challenge this complaint at every step of the judicial process," Quinones-Hollins said. "In the end, it matters not if his jersey hangs in the rafters of the H&PE Arena. His legacy and footprint will inevitably be present."
The lawsuit against Granger claims he made sexual comments on several occasions and groped the woman during a late April 2025 meeting in his office.
As of Friday, the lawsuit was still ongoing, according to Harris County court documents.
Houston-area lawyer Tony Buzbee is representing the alleged victim in the lawsuit.
In a statement to Houston Public Media, Buzbee said, “Claiming that a lawsuit is financially motivated as an argument that the lawsuit has no merit is just dumb.”
“Our client filed a title 9 complaint as she is required to do as an employee. She had witnesses,” Buzbee said. “Her testimony was strong and true. … After the title 9 finding and the appeal loss, TSU fired him. I was surprised it took that long.”
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