Former Chicago Red Stars head coach Rory Dames has been removed from the database of by the U.S. Center for SafeSport, a database meant to keep the public informed of individuals in the coaching space who face allegations of abuse or misconduct.
The Washington Post reported that “insufficient evidence” led to Dames’ case being put on hold, after Nancy Armour of USA Today took note last week that Dames’ name was no longer in the SafeSport database. Dames remains permanently banned from the National Women’s Soccer League.
Dames was investigated by SafeSport as early as 2019 and was reported for abusive behavior as coach of the Red Stars as far back as 2014, according to a 2022 report released by former U.S. attorney general Sally Yates.
In 2021, Dames abruptly resigned from the Red Stars in a midnight press release, one day after coaching the team in the NWSL Championship and one day before the Post published a scathing story detailing years of inappropriate behavior both as a professional and youth coach. He has not commented publicly since.
The Yates report was published a year later and mentioned Dames more than 300 times. The NWSL subsequently banned him for life.
The Post reported this week, citing records and sources, that SafeSport blamed “insufficient evidence” for shelving the case against Dames. The Post’s reporting also found that SafeSport’s investigation appeared to be flawed. The publication reached out to six people who had publicly accused Dames of wrongdoing and received the following results:
Out of six of Dames’s publicly named accusers whom The Post reached in recent days, four said they were never contacted by SafeSport. One said the center’s last attempt was nearly three years ago. The sixth said she decided not to respond after an investigator sent her text messages in which he mistakenly asked her about a different coach under investigation.
Last month, Paul Riley — who coached multiple NWSL teams and was also banned for life from the NWSL following allegations of sexual coercion — was suspended by SafeSport.
SafeSport’s CEO told the Post that the organization reserves the right to reopen any investigation should new evidence be presented.
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