Women’s college basketball Las Vegas Invitational organizer Bryce McKey was twice accused of sexual assault

According to public records, the organizer of a women’s basketball tournament of such shoddy quality that it has been compared to the Fyre Festival is a former Team I coach with a history of alleged sexual abuse.

Bryce McKey’s organization, Destination Basketball, is responsible for Las Vegas Guest the debacle last weekend, where major Division I women’s basketball programs played in a ballroom with no stands, players had no towels available — they were asked to bring their own — and no EMT on the spot, resulting in a postponed match.

But before settling into his current job as the organizer of the embarrassingly bad college basketball tournament, McKey resignation from his coaching role at Maryland in 2015 following allegations of sexual misconduct. The allegations were made by two women’s basketball players at Xavier, where McKey previously served as an assistant. He was accused of inviting two people to his suburban Cincinnati home at different times on the same day.

There, he allegedly gave the couple alcohol – at least one of the women under 21 years old at the time – and there were sexual advances towards them, including in some cases of alleged groping. McKey pledged not to commit a misdemeanor involving one of the women and was acquitted. No charges have been filed regarding the second charge.

In 2016, McKey was found not guilty of sexual abuse and unlawful dealing with a minor after a trial in Covington, Ky. The judge in the case, who decided on McKey’s verdict, Report asked: “If she’s really uncomfortable about what’s going on… why doesn’t she just leave?” The judge also reportedly believed that the alleged victim had too many opportunities to protest against what was happening but failed to do so and argued that McKey had no way of knowing that one of his players was under 21. age.

In a separate complaint that McKey has not been charged with, the former coach has is said to have stuck his hand inside a player’s pants in a goodbye hug — then, when she tried to leave, threw her on the bed and climbed on top of her. As Xavier’s season began, the team’s head coach at the time, Brian Neal, noticed the strange behavior and called the victim’s parents. The player’s father then relayed to Neal what his daughter had told him about her encounter with McKey, which led to Neal helping her file a police report, according to an open record request. by the Cincinnati Enquirer. No charges have been filed from this incident and McKey’s attorney, Harry Hellingshas said that it is “very easy to fabricate claims” and that there are “two sides to these issues.”

Since the ruling, McKey has been an influential figure on the Ohio high school girls’ basketball team. McKey is currently an AAU coach for the Legends U program. His personal Twitter account has been made private. Destination Basketball’s website is is no longer online and its Twitter account has been disabled since reports of the Las Vegas Invitational’s dire conditions went viral.

Deadspin attempted to contact McKey for comment via various email addresses and phone numbers but received no response.

According to public filings, McKey is listed as a collaborator for Journey to the Tourney, Great Lakes Basketball Classic, West Palm Invitational and Classic in the Country.

In an October appearance on WCPO’S .’s High School Insider Podcast, McKey is previewing the Ohio women’s basketball season and is also promoting the She Hoops Ohio organization. Its next event is Classic in the country.