The attorney representing over 400 youth basketball players sexually exploited by their coach says the Iowa Barnstormers Basketball organization and the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) failed to protect the young athletes. Last month, former Iowa Barnstormers basketball coach Greg Stephen pleaded guilty to secretly filming or soliciting nude images from about 400 boys over 12 years. Attorney Guy Cook says he wants this to be a wake-up call for youth sports organizations. “The point of this lawsuit is that there are very specific protocols that can be taken to minimize, if not eliminate this risk, which were not done,” Cook said at a news conference Monday.

According to Cook, the class action lawsuit filed in Johnson County District Court could result in damages exceeding $10 million. Cook said there are steps youth sports groups can take to prevent abuse, but these organizations didn’t enforce any of those guidelines. For example, the A-A-U handbook states coaches shall not share a hotel room with athletes. “And had this code provision been followed, enforced, and subject to the provisions within the Barnstormer Basketball of Iowa operation, none of this would’ve happened,” Cook said. “Utter failure by Barnstormer Basketball of Iowa and the AAU.”

Cook is calling on other victims to join the lawsuit to help prevent future abuse in youth sports. Greg Stephen, Barnstormers Basketball of Iowa, and the AAU are named in the lawsuit, but more defendants may be added.
(Radio Iowa, with Thanks to Katarina Sostaric, Iowa Public Radio)