Greg Ryan, former coach of the U.S. women's soccer team, denies claims made by soccer player Hope Solo that he pushed her in 2007.
In her newly released book, "A Memoir of Hope," Solo alleges that her former coach shoved her at a hotel room in 2007.
According to Business Insider, she introduces Ryan as:
If I had made a list of all the people I thought might coach the national team, Greg Ryan would probably have been dead last. ... He mostly faded into the background, rarely talking and never taking charge at practice. If he had any leadership skills or technical savvy, I never saw it.
She then goes on to describe the alleged incident:
"We were both silent. I had nothing left to say so I stood up to leave. Greg leaned over and pushed me back down on the couch. Hard," Solo wrote, according to the Associated Press.
"I was stunned that he had touched me," she said.
The incident allegedly occurred after Ryan told Solo she would be benched in favor of Briana Scurry for the 2007 World Cup game in Brazil.
At the time, Solo lashed out at her coach while speaking to the media, saying, "[Starting Scurry] was the wrong decision. And I think anybody that knows anything about the game knows that. There's no doubt in my mind I would have made those saves. And the fact of the matter is, it's not 2004 anymore."
Ryan, who is now the coach of the University of Michigan's women's soccer team, denies he ever shoved Solo.
"This allegation is completely false," Ryan said in a statement obtained by CBS News. "I did not shove or push Hope as I've been accused in her book. I would have been terminated immediately by USA Soccer had this allegation been true. I have openly discussed the contents of the meeting and this is the first time that this accusation has been brought to light."
"Hope was disappointed that I benched her for the semifinals but it was the right move for the team," he added. "It was discussed with team leaders and they stood by my decision. It's in the past and I've moved on. I'm focused on the upcoming Michigan soccer season."
After Scurry replaced Solo, the team went on to lose to Brazil, 4-0.