Title IX Investigations in Athletics: What Happens After Notice?
After a Title IX notice of allegations, your next steps can shape your athletic career. Learn what to expect in a Title IX investigation in athletics and how to protect your future.
A Title IX investigation in athletics usually becomes real the moment you receive written notice of allegations. That notice often outlines the conduct alleged, policies at issue, and your basic rights, and it may give you only a few days to respond or meet with an investigator. For student-athletes, coaches, and athletic departments, understanding this early phase is critical to protecting eligibility, scholarships, and reputation.
In most cases, the school conducts an initial assessment after sending the Title IX notice of allegations. You are typically told who is involved, what policy is allegedly violated, and how the Title IX investigation in athletics will move forward. Timelines are tight, and it is common to have only days, not weeks, to prepare for the first investigator meeting.
The investigation phase of a Title IX investigation in athletics focuses on interviews and evidence collection. Investigators may speak with you, the complainant, and witnesses such as teammates, staff, or others who have relevant information. Documentation matters: texts, emails, social media messages, training logs, travel records, and other materials can support a student-athlete Title IX defense when organized and preserved early.
Before any decision is made, most processes include an evidence review stage. Both sides are allowed to review the gathered evidence and submit written responses or additional information before the investigator finalizes a report. This is often the best opportunity to correct errors, challenge credibility problems, and highlight context the investigator may have missed.
If your school uses a Title IX hearing process, the case may move to a live or virtual hearing and then a written determination. Decision-makers consider the investigation report, hearing testimony, and other evidence under a standard that is often “preponderance of the evidence,” meaning more likely than not. Many schools allow an appeal window if there were procedural errors, new evidence, or other specified issues.
For athletics, the fallout of a Title IX investigation in athletics can go far beyond the classroom. Team status, playing time, leadership roles, scholarships, NIL exposure, and long-term career prospects may all be affected, even before a decision is reached. Schools may impose interim measures in Title IX cases, such as schedule adjustments or no-contact directives, but they should not treat allegations as findings or impose discipline without a proper process.
What to do immediately after notice:
Read the Title IX notice of allegations carefully and note all deadlines.
Preserve evidence: save texts, emails, social media, photos, and team-related records.
Do not contact the complainant or potential witnesses about the allegations.
Request your school’s Title IX policies and procedures in writing.
Write a detailed, private timeline of events while memories are fresh.
Identify potential witnesses and documents that may support your account.
Consult with an advisor or attorney experienced in student-athlete Title IX defense.
Ask how any interim measures in Title IX will affect your classes, housing, and team role.
Christine Brown & Partners regularly guides student-athletes and coaches through the Title IX hearing process, appeals, and complex issues like Title IX retaliation risk. The firm understands the culture of college sports and helps clients navigate investigations while protecting confidentiality, eligibility, and long-term goals.
If you are facing a Title IX investigation in athletics, early guidance can make a meaningful difference in both process and outcome. Contact Christine Brown & Partners for a confidential consultation with attorneys who understand both the law and the realities of college sports.
