Director of softball program charged with statutory rape in Hendersonville, police say there might be more victims

The director of a traveling high school softball program has been arrested and charged with two counts of statutory rape by an authority figure and two counts of solicitation of a minor after an underage female reported he sexually assaulted her.

Kenneth "Kenny" Smith, 45, of Maryville, is being held in the Sumner County jail.

According to his Facebook profile, Smith works at Collegiate Sports Advocate and Knox County Schools.

The page shows that he has been employed with the district since 2011. District spokeswoman Carly Harrington, however, said that he left the district in 2015.

She was unclear on his exact position during his employment and when he was hired.

According to a news release from the Hendersonville Police Department, on Dec. 11, it received a report that a female was sexually assaulted by Smith while in Hendersonville.

Their investigation found evidence of multiple incidents of sexual advances and contact by Smith with the victim when she was under the age of 18 in Hendersonville and other jurisdictions, according to the release.

Smith was arrested Dec. 13 and is scheduled to appear in Sumner County General Sessions Court on Jan. 9.

Anyone with information on Kenneth Smith, this case, or any other possible victims should call and report that information to Hendersonville Police at 615-264-5303 or the Hendersonville Crime Stoppers at 615-573-5400.

Tips may also be submitted anonymously by text to the number 274637 (crimes) using keyword TIPHPD.

Sexual assault in youth sports 

The lack of oversight for youth sports coaches has been in the news recently in the wake of Larry Nassar sexual abuse scandal at USA Gymnastics. 

The organization that oversees the Olympic movement in the U.S. failed to protect young athletes from the threat of sexual misconduct in elite sports, according to a new report released Monday in regards to the case. 

The comprehensive report comes more than two years after revelations that Nassar, the longtime physician for USAG and Michigan State University, molested more than 350 girls and young women under the guise of medical treatment.

In its executive summary, law firm Ropes & Gray said Nassar’s ability to abuse athletes for nearly 30 years “is a manifestation of the broader failures at USAG and the USOC to adopt appropriate child-protective policies and procedures to ensure a culture of safety for young athletes.” Both USAG and the USOC had governance structures and policies in place that “had the effect of allowing abuse to occur and continue without effective intervention.”

USA TODAY reporters found half-dozen coaches banned for sexual misconduct who were still active in their sport. Three of them were working at events or facilities affiliated with the national sports governing bodies that are supposed to be enforcing the bans.

More: Was your child’s coach banned for sexual misconduct? Better check

Links to check:  Here's how to find out if your coach has been banned by an Olympic organization

New information: New report details how USOC, USAG failed to protect athletes in Larry Nassar sex abuse case

More:These changes must be made by Olympic sport leaders to protect young athletes

USA Today and Knox News Sentinel contributed to this report. 

Sumner News Editor Amy Nixon can be reached at [email protected] or 615-946-7549.