Former Michigan hockey coach denies involvement in alleged hazing practices
Red Berenson said initiation rituals were led by senior players, not coaches, and rejected claims that the staff encouraged sexualized hazing in a lawsuit filed by 16 former athletes.
Former Michigan men’s hockey coach Red Berenson has denied that the program’s coaching staff encouraged or facilitated sexualized hazing, asserting that any initiation activities were organized by senior players without staff involvement. Sixteen former Wolverines filed a federal lawsuit alleging years of abuse, including forced genital shaving and other misconduct, between 1984 and 2001. The complaint accuses the university and its board of failing to stop or report the conduct and alleges that Berenson, former assistant coach Mel Pearson and other staff members knew about and encouraged the behavior.
"We knew there was a certain element of initiation on our team, and it was usually orchestrated by the seniors. We didn’t promote it. We didn’t question it. We didn’t encourage it," Berenson told MLive.
Berenson, who retired in 2017 and now serves as a special advisor to the athletic director, said the program ended formal freshman initiation traditions in 2012 after national concerns about hazing. He added that coaches focused on recruiting and had no role in directing or monitoring the alleged practices.
The lawsuit also claims Berenson ordered freshmen to shave only "from the neck down" in 1993 to conceal the shaving, and that he retaliated against players who complained by reducing their playing time. Berenson called the sexual characterization of the allegations an exaggeration and expressed surprise and disappointment at the claims.
"I would say I’m sorry they had to carry this all these years and now come out like this," he said, adding that any discussion about the issue should have been a private conversation among coaches and team leaders.
The university issued a statement denying responsibility and describing parts of the complaint as misleading. The plaintiffs allege Title IX violations and seek damages for physical and psychological injuries and other losses. Berenson said he maintains strong relationships with many former players and continues to attend games, while the rink at Yost Ice Arena remains named in his honor.