Kenny Jacoby
Kenny Jacoby
Investigative Reporter

about me

I’m an investigative reporter for USA TODAY. I cover abuses of power, primarily in sports, higher education and law enforcement. Much of my work has centered on sexual violence in college athletics, financial exploitation in youth sports and violations of civil rights laws, including Title IX. My investigations into sexual misconduct at universities in California, Louisiana, Michigan and elsewhere have prompted federal investigations, criminal convictions, state laws, national policy reforms and resignations and firings of college presidents and head football coaches. My stories have been recognized with more than 20 national awards for investigative reporting.

I’m always looking for new stories to uncover. If you have any tips or ideas that need digging into, email me.

Recent Work

For the last year, I’ve been investigating anticompetitive business practices in the world of youth hockey. Here are some of my recent stories:

Sports

Featured
Cash vanished from charity raffles at NHL, NBA games

As money disappeared from the 50/50 raffle, the raffle manager made large cash deposits into his personal bank account. USA TODAY analyzed bank records, quarterly reports and more to follow the money.

‘They control everything’: How the Dallas Stars monopolized Texas youth hockey

Ice is power in the lucrative world of youth hockey. In North Texas, the Dallas Stars hold almost all of it.

Players paid thousands for a new chance at college football. Where did the money go?

A USA TODAY investigation found Leo Etienne, the man behind the National Post Grad Athletic Association, built his league on unfulfilled promises.

Colleges

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Michigan State football coach Mel Tucker accused of sexually harassing rape survivor

Brenda Tracy, a prominent rape survivor and activist, accused one of nation’s highest-paid college football coaches of masturbating without consent. A USA TODAY investigation prompted the coach’s firing for cause.

LSU mishandled sexual misconduct complaints against students, including top athletes

A USA TODAY investigation found top LSU officials repeatedly ignored complaints against abusers, denied victims’ requests for protections and subjected them to further harm by known perpetrators.

San Jose State athletic trainer accused of inappropriately touching swimmers

A USA TODAY investigation prompted criminal charges against San Jose State University sports medicine, Scott Shaw, who was later convicted of sexually abusing female athletes.

Law enforcement

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After alleged rape by Michigan athlete, a woman’s death and a mom’s search for answers

Police and university officials closed their cases without questioning the football player. With the woman dead, they decided not to pursue

Six women reported a Louisiana college student for sexual misconduct. No one connected the dots.

Over his six years in college, at least six women at three Louisiana universities told police and school officials that Victor Silva sexually assaulted them. He never missed a semester of classes.

How cops who use force and even kill can hide their names from the public

Marsy’s Law ensures crime victims the right to privacy. But police departments across Florida and the Dakotas have repeatedly used it to hide the names of officers who use force on the job. And the law may be spreading, too.

Title IX

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Exclusive records show Nevada athletics ran afoul of Title IX. Its leaders shrugged.

Complaints of inequitable treatment from Nevada female athletes and employees went unaddressed for years, a USA TODAY investigation found – even when the federal government intervened.

Title IX was intended to close the gender gap in college athletics. But schools are rigging the numbers.

In a comprehensive data analysis, USA TODAY found widespread use of roster manipulation across many of the nation’s largest and best-known colleges and universities to conjure the illusion of thousands more opportunities for female athletes.

Fresno State president mishandled sexual harassment complaints. Now he leads all 23 Cal State colleges.

Days before being named chancellor of the nation’s largest public university system, Joseph Castro authorized a sweetheart settlement deal to an administrator found to have sexually harassed a female employee.

Recognition

Associated press sports editors award for investigative reporting

Education writers association award for investigative reporting & Public service

Investigative Reporters and Editors Award for Sports Investigations

Livingston award for national reporting - Finalist

national headliner award for newspaper public service

news leaders association first amendment award

society for professional journalists sigma delta chi award for investigative reporting