Marin volleyball club founder sentenced for slapping teen player

A former Marin volleyball coach who slapped a teenage player in his program was ordered Monday to serve a 10-day sentence and four years of probation.

Konrad Ott, a co-founder of the Absolute Volleyball Club in San Rafael, tearfully apologized to the victim, Grace Hodges of Novato, during a hearing in Marin County Superior Court.

“I can’t say I’m sorry enough to you and your family,” said Ott, 52, of Petaluma. “I will continue to work tirelessly to become the best person I can.”

“I wish I could change what happened, how I treated you and your teammates,” he said. “I hope in time you can learn to forgive me.”

Ott spoke after Hodges, 17, delivered a lengthy statement about how he violated her trust and broke her self-esteem.

“You treated me like trash and I let you,” said Hodges, a senior at Marin Catholic High School. “You damaged me and I’ll never be the same person I was before I met you. I’ve become different and I hate the person you’ve turned me into.”

Ott was accused of slapping Hodges in the face during a practice session at the club in April 2022. A witness said he did so after Hodges asked a question that he called “stupid.”

Hodges’ family provided San Rafael police with injury photos showing a bruised cheek with broken skin.

After additional investigation, police booked Ott into the Marin County Jail on suspicion of felony child endangerment. He was released on bail pending a review by the Marin County District Attorney’s Office.

The prosecution filed two misdemeanor counts: inflicting unjustifiable physical pain or mental suffering on a child, and corporal injury upon a child.

After the incident involving Hodges, several players and parents said Ott had a history of volatility and oral abuse against players.

Ott pleaded guilty last month to the first of the two counts. The sentencing was held Monday afternoon before court Commissioner Janet Frankel.

In addition to the 10-day sentence — which can be served in a work program rather than jail — Frankel ordered Ott to perform 40 hours of community service and complete a one-year child abusers treatment program.

Frankel also forbade him from contacting Hodges during the four-year probation period.

To Hodges, she said: “Thank you for your courage in coming forward and reading that statement. I do appreciate your bravery.”

Ott stepped down from coaching at the club after his arrest. A former coach at Marin Catholic, he started the club about 20 years ago with his wife Katie Pease, who used to coach at Redwood High School.

Pease remains a co-director of the club along with Jake Spain, a club coach who was promoted upon Ott’s exit. Spain is a former volleyball coach at Marin Catholic.

Ott remains under investigation by U.S. Center for SafeSport, a nonprofit authorized by Congress to address abuses against amateur athletes. The organization has temporarily suspended him from coaching players in USA Volleyball, the…