SJSU Volleyball Coach Rips His Predecessor Who Recruited Trans Player Blaire Fleming
San Jose State coach Todd Kress has been one of the key figures in the drama surrounding trans volleyball player Blaire Fleming, that has turned a spotlight on his team and the Mountain West Conference.
But Fleming's appearance on the scene at SJSU did not start with Kress.
SJSU's Blaire Fleming continues to compete against women. (Getty Images)
It was the Spartans' previous coach and current Loyola Marymount University women's volleyball coach Trent Kersten and his staff who brought Fleming to San Jose.
LMU women's volleyball coach Trent Kersten recruited Blaire Fleming at SJSU. (LMU Athletics)
((LMU Athletics))
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SJSU Coach Todd Kress Comments On Trent Kersten's Relationship with Blaire Fleming
Kersten remains radio silent amid the controversy surrounding Fleming, which has seen seven volleyball matches canceled, six of which were recorded as forfeits by teams opposing San Jose State.
OutKick spoke with SJSU coach Todd Kress about Kersten and whether the former coach had kept tabs on the player he brought over from Coastal Carolina prior to the 2022 season.
Kress said Kersten has failed to check in on Fleming, the player he recruited, or communicated with the program in any way as teams began to forfeit against the Spartans.
San Jose State University Spartans head coach Todd Kress speaks with members of the news media following their loss in an NCAA Mountain West women's volleyball game against the Colorado State University Rams in Fort Collins, Colo., on Thursday, Oct. 03, 2024. (Photo by Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)
"Trent brought Blaire to SJSU and [Fleming] played for him for the 2022 season before his departure to LMU," Kress commented to OutKick, a day after his team lost to San Diego State (Nov. 9).
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"My frustration with Trent is an unfortunate situation," the SJSU coach continued. "[Trent Kersten] obviously knows Blaire is in the crosshairs of this debate and yet he has not reached out to [Fleming] one time to check in on [Fleming's] mental health. I find it sad to be honest."
OutKick Visits Trent Kersten At LMU, Jesuit School Stays Silent
Fleming played two seasons at San Jose State after one year with Coastal Carolina in 2020.
The volleyball athlete transferred from Coastal Carolina University in South Carolina before the 2021-2022 season. In May 2022, the Save Women’s Sports Act was enacted in South Carolina, prohibiting biological males from competing in girls’ and women’s sports.
LMU Volleyball Coach Trent Kersten recruited Blaire Fleming and left SJSU with a huge mess.
(Alejandro Avila / OutKick)
Former SJSU Coach Is Longtime Trans Advocate
Kersten, at least according to some of his social media activity, appears to be an advocate for trans rights.
The coach, who comes from a volleyball family and played at UCLA, previously reposted an image on his X account with a BLM fist surrounded by a rainbow, captioned "VolleQuality."
LMU Coach Trent Kersten Recruited Trans Volleyballer Before Leaving SJSU
(trent kersten on X)
After recruiting Fleming to the Spartans, Kersten left SJSU for LMU in early 2023.
Earlier this season, OutKick attempted to interview Kersten about the situation unfolding with his former team and Fleming, attending a volleyball match at LMU on Sept. 20.
Personnel at LMU's Gersten Pavilion presented OutKick's request to Assistant Sports Media Relations Manager Taylor Turner. After requesting a sit-down with Kersten to discuss Blaire Fleming, LMU's athletic staff quickly clammed up.
In a follow-up message after the match, OutKick asked LMU if it had been aware of Kersten's involvement with recruiting Fleming before hiring him at a private, religious institution.
The university responded by saying that the NCAA's guidelines for recruiting permitted Kersten to bring on a trans player at SJSU.
"Trent Kersten is among the best head coaches in the nation," LMU told OutKick in September after we attended the match. "We cannot speak to the recruitment practices of other institutions or the student-athletes on other rosters across the sport."
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Blaire Fleming of the San Jose State Spartans talks with Head coach Todd Kress of the San Jose State Spartans during the third set against the Air Force Falcons at Falcon Court at East Gym on October 19, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Wevers/Getty Images)
"The NCAA Board of Governors ultimately decides policies regarding the eligibility of student-athletes."
Kersten's recruitment of Fleming to SJSU are still being felt.
On Sunday, we asked LMU about SJSU coach Todd Kress' comments regarding Fleming and Kersten. LMU did not respond to OutKick's request.
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