BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — The recent passing of Brad Bomba, a former team physician at Indiana University, has cast a shadow over ongoing allegations of sexual assault made by former athletes. Bomba, who died Thursday at the age of 89, had a storied career both as an athlete and later as a physician for the university’s sports teams.
A star on the football field, Bomba played for the Hoosiers from 1954 to 1956, finishing as the leading receiver each season. His contributions earned him induction into the IU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1994 and the Indiana Football Hall of Fame in 2007. Following his graduation from the IU School of Medicine in 1957, Bomba served as the university’s athletics physician from 1963 to 1969 and was the men’s basketball team physician for three decades, including during their championship runs in 1976, 1981, and 1987. He notably became friends with legendary coach Bob Knight during his tenure.
In addition to his role at Indiana, he was the team doctor for the U.S. men’s basketball team at the 1984 Olympics, further solidifying his reputation in the sports medicine community. Allegations against him first emerged in August, sparking serious concerns regarding his medical practices during examinations.
A class-action lawsuit filed in October brought significant attention to these allegations. Former players, including Haris Mujezinovic and Charlie Miller, accused Bomba of sexual abuse during routine physicals. Other former athletes, John Flowers, Larry Richardson Jr., and Butch Carter, later joined the lawsuit. Notably, Bomba was not listed as a defendant in the suit against the university’s trustees or a longtime trainer, and prosecutors did not formally charge him with any crimes.
In response to these allegations, Indiana University hired the law firm Jones Day to conduct an independent investigation. Their report, released earlier this year, concluded that Bomba’s examinations were performed appropriately and found no evidence of sexual misconduct or that he derived gratification from the procedures.
Kathleen DeLaney, an attorney representing the former players through the firm DeLaney & DeLaney, indicated that Bomba provided videotaped testimony for the lawsuit before his death. During this testimony, he invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination over 40 times.
As the legal proceedings continue, DeLaney expressed her expectation that the lawsuit will move forward despite Bomba’s recent death. The case has drawn significant attention not only for its serious allegations but also for the implications it has for the university and its handling of athlete safety.
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