Six former Ohio State coaches defend Jordan

Six former Ohio State University wrestling coaches on Monday issued statements defending Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), who is being accused of failing to protect former wrestlers from sexual abuse by a team doctor while working as a coach there.

“What has been said about Jim Jordan is absolutely wrong,” the half-dozen coaches said in a joint statement. “We all worked on the wrestling coaching staff during Jim’s tenure at The Ohio State University. None of us saw or heard of abuse of OSU wrestlers. The well-being of student-athletes was all of our concern. If we had heard of any abuse, we would have spoken up.”

{mosads}The former coaches who issued the statement are: Russ Hellickson, former head coach; Dave Ruckman, former assistant coach; Rex Holman, former assistant coach; Ken Chertow, former assistant coach; Myron Kharchilava, former assistant coach; and Kenny Ramsey Jr., former assistant coach.

At least seven former wrestlers have come forward to accuse Jordan of turning a blind eye toward the sexual abuse of student-athletes allegedly committed by team doctor Richard Strauss, who died in 2005.

Jordan has denied knowing about any abuse and has said he would have acted had he been told.