XC Coach Eric Cummings Under Investigation at Time of Death


Riverside cross country and track and field coach Eric Cummings was under investigation for alleged sexual assault prior to his death earlier this week, according to the Greer Police Department.

The information obtained has been reported online by both WYFF News 4 and The Greenville News.

Cummings was found dead in his Lyman home on Tuesday, according to Spartanburg County coroner Rusty Clevenger. He did not reveal the manner of death when asked by The Greenville News on Wednesday.

RELATED: Riverside Coach Eric Cummings Passes Away

Clevenger did reply via text to The Greenville News that an autopsy was "pending microscopic and toxicology findings."

Cummings was placed on administrative leave by Greenville County Schools on Sept. 3. The investigation stems from a former Riverside student who claims that Cummings sexually assaulted her at the school during her junior year in September 2016. She stated that she was 16 years old at the time of the alleged assault.

According to WYFF, a mother has stated that her daughter has been allegedly sexually assaulted in a separate incident by Cummings on the Riverside campus during this school year.

The mother told WYFF that she is speaking out because her belief is that there may be more victims. She went on to say that she has reached out to an attorney to explore legal options.

Cummings, a SCTCCCA Hall of Fame member, had been coaching since 1997. In 2017, he was named the national boys cross country coach of the year by the NFHS Coaches Association after leading the Warriors to the Class 5A state title.