Leo KocherOn March 7, 2016, Kocher sent a letter to the judge seeking leniency for Hastert, who on Wednesday was sentenced to 15 months in prison for committing bank fraud to cover up sexual abuse while a high school wrestling coach in suburban Chicago.
"Like many people I did not want to believe these allegations about someone whom I respected. In light of the recent confirmation of detailed allegations, I now deeply regret my decision seven weeks ago to submit this letter and to write it on University of Chicago Wrestling Program letterhead," Kocher wrote in his email to the Chicago Maroon student paper. "I have only sympathy for the victims in this case."
Kocher's letter was written before a court filing on April 8 that detailed allegations by four individuals who said that Hastert sexually assaulted them as teens during his time as a teacher and wrestling coach at Yorkville High School from 1965 to 1981. During his sentencing hearing Wednesday, Hastert admitted to sexually abusing his athletes. In response, federal judge Thomas Durkin called Hastert a "serial child molester" and imposed a longer sentence than the one of up to six months which had been recommended by the federal prosecutor. The judge also made clear he could not sentence Hastert for the assaults, because the statutes of limitations on the sexual abuse allegations have long passed.
In the letter, written on UChicago Wrestling stationery, Kocher identifies himself as head wrestling coach and associate professor at the school for 35 years, and that he grew up in Sycamore, Illinois -- a community about 65 miles west of Chicago -- in the U.S. House district Hastert served.
"I am writing to testify to the fact that Denny Hastert is an outstanding human being who made enormous contributions to society -- particularly the youth of society -- over his lifetime," wrote Kocher. "Denny told me over 10 years ago that his work as a teacher and wrestling coach at Yorkville High School meant much more to him than any accolades he received as an elected government official. I have no doubt he meant it."
Kocher then addressed the work that he and Hastert did together "when it became apparent that the U.S. Department of Education had created a strong incentive for colleges to eliminate intercollegiate athletic opportunities through its interpretation of Title IX." (A PDF file of Kocher's complete letter -- along with others submitted to the judge on behalf of Hastert -- is available at the Chicago Tribune website .)
Through an email from a school spokesperson sent to the Chicago Maroon, University of Chicago made clear that Kocher's letter did not represent the views of the school.
"UChicago Athletics is committed to upholding core principles of education, excellence and integrity, and helping students develop as athletes, teammates, and as citizens in the world," said Marielle Sainvilus. "Members of the University community express their individual views on a wide range of topics, and none of these are to be taken as positions of the University itself."
The court received more than 60 letters written on behalf of Hastert. Kocher was one of 40 individuals whose letters were made public by the judge late last week. Along with pleas from family members, constituents, and political figures such as former CIA director Porter Goss and former House Majority leader Tom DeLay, there were at least three other letters from individuals with wrestling backgrounds: David Kapple, who wrestled on a Yorkville team coached by Hastert; Dale Anderson, two-time NCAA champ at Michigan State in the late 1960s; and wrestling historian Mike Chapman.
Kocher just completed his 37th season as head coach of the UChicago Maroons. During his tenure, Kocher has coached 22 All-Americans, including a pair of NCAA Division III champions, and has guided UChicago to four top-15 team finishes at the NCAA III Championships as well as 15 University Athletic Association team titles, according to his official school biography.
In 2013, Kocher was honored with a lifetime service award by the Illinois Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Prior to his arrival at UChicago, Kocher served a two-year stint as assistant coach at Northwestern University. Kocher began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Northern Illinois University. Kocher wrestled at Northwestern, and also wrestled in both freestyle and Greco-Roman.
At its official website, University of Chicago describes itself as "one of the world's premier academic and research institutions." Founded in 1890 by John D. Rockefeller, the private, four-year university has approximately 15,500 undergraduate and graduate students at its main campus in the Hyde Park neighborhood south of downtown Chicago, and at facilities located around the world. UChicago's Maroons intercollegiate sports teams -- including wrestling -- compete in NCAA Division III.
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