Former Nebraska assistant women's basketball coach Chuck Love has admitted under oath to having a sexual relationship with former player Ashley Scoggin, marking a major development in a federal lawsuit that has placed the University of Nebraska's handling of the case under renewed scrutiny.
The admission, made during a February 2026 deposition, directly contradicts Love's earlier court denial and intensifies a legal battle that has unfolded since Scoggin first filed suit in 2024.
Court filings show Love acknowledged for the first time that he had sexual contact with Scoggin during sworn testimony on 5 February 2026. He had previously denied all allegations in earlier legal submissions.
The admission is now central to Scoggin's civil rights lawsuit, which accuses Love and Nebraska officials of misconduct, abuse of authority, and failures in safeguarding a student athlete. His legal representative has not publicly commented on the deposition.
Scoggin's legal team argues the testimony strengthens claims that she was involved in an inappropriate relationship with a member of the coaching staff while playing for the Nebraska Cornhuskers women's basketball programme.
Scoggin, a former Nebraska player who later transferred to UNLV, alleges that Love began a sexual relationship with her in September 2021 while he was serving as assistant coach.
Her lawsuit claims she was groomed and placed under pressure due to his position of authority within the programme. It also alleges violations of her civil rights, emotional distress, and wrongful removal from the team.
Scoggin was dismissed from the Nebraska roster following the discovery of the relationship in 2022, after starting all 25 games in the 2021–22 season. She argues the decision punished her rather than addressing the alleged misconduct by the coaching staff.
The lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages and claims Nebraska failed to provide a fair investigation under Title IX, the federal law prohibiting sex-based discrimination in education programmes.
A key element of the case relates to a February 2022 team trip to Penn State, where Scoggin's presence in Love's hotel room was allegedly discovered.
Source: International Business Times UK
