An independent review of alleged questionable community service
practices by former University of Colorado strength and
conditioning coach E.J. “Doc” Kreis was closed Friday,
after the investigation was unable to confirm whether or not he
acted legitimately.
Kreis, the current strength coach at UCLA, was investigated
after he allowed several CU football players to serve their
community service hours at the Dal Ward Athletic Center.
According to the Rocky Mountain News, suspicions arose when
Boulder County Community Justice Services found that Kreis had
submitted three identical letters for three different
alcohol-related cases involving the same athlete. Kreis reportedly
sent the form letter on behalf of a player, Roderick Franklin
Sneed, each time saying Sneed had fulfilled his community service
hours at the athletic department’s student outreach
program.
In the letters, Kreis reportedly wrote that parts of the
outreach program were held in conjunction with local elementary and
middle schools. But in a December deposition, Kreis did not clearly
define what counted as community service, though he did say some
consisted of demonstrating weightlifting to kids, the Rocky
Mountain News said.
Lou Rubino, Kreis’ attorney, denied any allegations of
dubious behavior.
“The outreach program was recognized by the courts and
accepted by probation officers,” Rubino said. “It was
also recognized by the Office of Judicial Affairs for the Colorado
campus. Doc is a man of integrity, I’ve known him for eight
years and I’ve never known him to do anything
wrong.”
Three other players were allowed to fulfill their community
service hours at the athletic center. One gave tours of the
athletic department to children, explaining what it was like to be
a football player.
Messages left at Kreis’ UCLA office over the weekend were
not returned.
Boulder County official Jim Thome, who lead the review of Kreis,
told the Boulder Daily Camera that he felt compelled to close the
case because of the lack of information provided to him.
“Quite honestly, (Kreis) has contradicted the paperwork he
sent us via his deposition,” he told the Daily Camera.
“With him as the only source to verify, there wasn’t
anywhere to go with this.”