Shareece Wright, a former USC Trojans, and San Diego Chargers cornerback identified himself as one of 12 previously anonymous plaintiffs accusing a former high school athletic trainer of sexual assault. The alleged abuse took place when Wright was a minor at a Southern California high school.
Wright’s goal is to speak out, in hopes his story will help “stop it from happening to other kids.”
“The less it’s kept a secret, the harder it is for it to continue to happen.”
Shareece Wright on sharing his story
Wright is one of six original former Colton High School football players to have sued former athletic trainer Tiffany Strauss-Gordon in September 2022. But the number of plaintiffs has since expanded to 12 victims.
The alleged abuse reportedly started when Wright was 15 when his abuser was 21 years old. He alleges that Strauss-Gordon inappropriately touched him during treatment sessions and performed oral sex on him in the school’s training room.
Wright added that players and coaches would frequently joke about the trainer’s behavior, referring to her performing oral sex as the “Tiffany treatment.”
Another unnamed plaintiff said, “It was pretty open and obvious what was happening.” This anonymous athlete added that he was aware of what was happening back when he was teammates with Wright.
Once the lawsuits were filed, Strauss-Gordon was placed on administrative leave, where she was working as an athletic director but for a different high school. She is believed to still be suspended without pay.
USC Trojans, Chargers Cornerback Shareece Wright Had 8-Year NFL Career After Abuse Occurred
Shareece Wright added that he only recently started understanding his past roughly three years ago after telling his mom about his encounters in high school. It was then, once he saw how his mother reacted while having concerns about his own sons, that motivated Wright to take his story public.
“Being a dad and having kids and having nieces and nephews that are going to public schools, it just hit home. I just want to make the conversation comfortable for people to speak up about.”
Shareece Wright opening up about his past
While we’re just learning about Wright’s previously unknown story, the now 36-year-old cornerback parlayed his high school stardom into a scholarship with the USC Trojans. After being a team captain in his senior season with the Trojans, Wright was selected 89th overall by the San Diego Chargers in the third round of the 2011 NFL Draft.
Wright played out his entire rookie contract with the Chargers, moving on after four seasons. He then played for Baltimore, Buffalo, and Houston to close out his eight-year NFL career.
