Austin Peay co-offensive coordinator Patrick Kugler resigned Sunday, a day after his arrest on Aug. 17 in connection to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) undercover operation into human trafficking.
The TBI announced Thursday the arrest of six men, including Kugler, following a two-day operation aimed at addressing human trafficking in Montgomery County. The TBI said officers placed decoy advertisements on websites linked to prostitution and commercial sex “to identify individuals seeking to engage in commercial sex acts with minors.”
Additionally, the TBI said that seven individuals were recovered as potential victims of human trafficking.
The school confirmed Kugler’s resignation in a statement.
“Austin Peay State University is aware of the arrest of former football assistant coach Patrick Kugler, who resigned his position on Sunday, Aug. 18.
The Clarksville Police Department are the lead authorities for the arrest and any additional questions should be directed to them. Austin Peay will have no further comments on the matter.”
Kugler was charged with one count of trafficking for sexual servitude with a bond set at $5,000. All six men were booked into the Montgomery County Jail, according to the TBI.
It was not clear at the time of publication if Kugler had representation or had posted a bond.
Kugler, 29, played at Michigan for five seasons from 2013 to 2017, logging 23 appearances and 14 starts in the final three years. He was an All-Big Ten honorable mention in 2017.
His father, Sean Kugler, formerly coached UTEP from 2013 to 2017 and has extensive assistant coaching experience in the NFL.
(Photo: Charles Mitchell / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
