University of Minnesota men's basketball star Reggie Lynch plans to appeal his suspension and ban from campus stemming from a school investigation that found him responsible for sexual misconduct, a source close to the player said Friday.
He will not play for the Gophers while this process plays out, however, athletic director Mark Coyle said Friday.
Lynch, 23, and his accuser were informed late Thursday that he would be suspended until at least August 2020 for an incident in his dorm room at Roy Wilkins Hall on April 28, 2016. The suspension was to begin Tuesday unless Lynch or his accuser appealed, according to Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action (EOAA) office records obtained by the Star Tribune.
The source close to Lynch said last year's Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year will seek to remain on the basketball team. He is in his final year of college eligibility.
Lynch is still a member of the team, Coyle said Friday, but "he is suspended from athletic competition."
"It's a decision I made today," Coyle added. "I involved coach (Richard) Pitino and the student-athlete involved."
Lynch can still practice. The Gophers play host to Indiana on Saturday at 4:15 p.m.
Coyle said repeatedly Friday that he was unable to comment further about the case, due "to student privacy laws."
"I know it's frustrating to hear ... but all 750 student-athletes have access to university policies and process, and it's important to let due process plays out for those athletes," Coyle said.
The woman who filed the sexual assault complaint against Lynch declined to comment. Her complaint has not been made public nor has the university's report from the investigation so it's unclear what is alleged to have happened in Lynch's dorm room.
The source close to Lynch said he will request a hearing by the Student Sexual Misconduct Subcommittee (SSMS). The SSMS would issue its own decision. Thursday's finding and recommended suspension will not take effect if Lynch requests that hearing. The hearing process can take weeks if not months.
The university defines sexual misconduct as "any nonconsensual behavior of a sexual nature that is committed by force or intimidation, or that is otherwise unwelcome." That includes, "sexual assault, relationship violence, stalking, and sexual or gender-based harassment."
Coyle said he was "not aware" if the university has forwarded this matter to police.
In May 2016, the month following this alleged assault, Lynch was arrested for a separate incident involving a 19-year-old woman at a campus apartment. The incidents involve different accusers. He was suspended from the team at the time of the May allegation, but reinstated a month after the Hennepin County attorney's office declined to press charges, citing insufficient evidence. The university also cleared Lynch in that case.
Lynch's Gophers' tenure began when he transferred to Minnesota after playing two seasons at Illinois State. He sat out the 2015-16 season. He became the Gophers' starting center last season.
Asked if it was a mistake to bring Lynch to Minnesota, Pitino responded: "We never saw any red flags. We do as much background as we can with everybody we bring in."
Pitino said he thought the school handled the situation properly.
"When things like this happen, you go to your boss," the coach said. "You go to your policies in place. And I feel we did that."
This season, Lynch, who is 6-foot-10, has been averaging career highs of 10 points, eight rebounds and a Big Ten-leading four blocks in 15 starts.
Lynch is a former all-state player at Edina (Minn.) High School. He has been discussed as an NBA prospect.
