A Baltimore judge has dismissed the lawsuit against Coppin State University and its former men’s head basketball coach Juan Dixon, who also apears on The Real Housewives of Potomac. The suit was issued by a former player alleging an assistant coach blackmailed and sexually assaulted him. He also claimed the school wrongfully acted in retaliation.
The Baltimore Banner reported the Monday ruling from Baltimore Circuit Judge Melissa K. Copeland would allow an amendment to the complaint, stating, “We are very much at the very beginning of the case.”
“We are pleased with the decision to dismiss all claims against Coppin State University, the University System of Maryland, the State of Maryland, Derek Carter (Director of Athletics), and Juan Dixon,” Aleithea Warmack, a spokesperson for the Maryland Office of the Attorney General, said.
She added that due to the ability for an amendment, the legal team was “prevented from commenting on the specific details of the case at this time.”
As Blavity’s Shadow and Act previously reported in November 2022, Ibn Williams, 23, made a complaint alleging that Lucian Brownlee, a former teammate who later served as director of player development, blackmailed and sexually assaulted him.
Williams claimed he was catfished in 2018 by someone pretending to be a young woman on social media. The individual convinced him to send suggestive pictures and graphic texts. He believed their relationship was private and developing into a serious, romantic relationship.
The individual then revealed they were not the young woman they portrayed to be and began to blackmail the student-athlete.
The blackmailer then demanded Williams to “engage in sexual encounters” with Brownlee or risk them revealing the nature of the relationship.
At the time, Brownlee had become part of the coaching staff after graduating.
The individual then pressed Williams to provide a video of him and Brownlee engaging in sexual acts. He initially refused but later gave in to the request.
In 2020, Williams stopped responding to the blackmailer, which led to the content’s release with basketball staff, faculty and on social media.
The lawsuit also indicated Williams met with Dixon to discuss other issues. However, when the topic of Brownlee came up, Dixon reportedly failed to take action.
According to the lawsuit, Dixon admitted to Williams that Brownlee was “mentally ill or otherwise emotionally imbalanced” and claimed Derek Carter and Coppin State knew about his mental history.
Williams also alleged the university began to question his past sexual experiences and orientation after he asked personnel to conduct a review of his claims.
Williams has since transferred to Morehouse College in Atlanta.
In 2016, Dixon became a cast member of The Real Housewives of Potomac with longtime cast member Robyn Dixon. The two are engaged again following the end of their seven-year marriage in 2012.
The former NBA player became the head men’s basketball coach of the Coppin State Eagles in 2017 and compiled a 51-131 record in six seasons. He parted ways with the school earlier this year.
