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- A lawsuit accuses Ranier Rackley of groping a Rolesville High student.
- The suit names Rackley and the Wake County school system as defendants.
- Wake says Rackley was in paid status and off campus from Nov. 18 to June 15.
A Duke University football staff member faces civil allegations that he sexually abused a student when he was a teacher at Rolesville High School.
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A lawsuit filed in Wake County Superior Court names Ranier Rackley and the Wake County school system as defendants in a sex abuse complaint. The lawsuit, which was originally filed in July, accuses Rackley of grabbing and groping a female student in his classroom at Rolesville High in November 2025.
Rackley, who was also Rolesville High’s head football coach, resigned from Wake last spring to become the director of player development for Duke’s football program. Rackley denied the abuse allegations.
“Mr. Rackley denies the allegations asserted in the complaint,” Forrest P. Fallanca, Rackley’s attorney, said in a statement to The News & Observer. “He respects the legal process and looks forward to addressing the claims in court. He remains devoted to his family and community and appreciates the support he has received.”
The Wake County school system declined comment due to the pending lawsuit. Duke athletics also declined to comment.
Allegations of sexual abuse in classroom
District records show Rackley was hired in August 2017 as a special education instructional assistant at Leesville Road High School in Raleigh. Rackley went on to become a career and technical education teacher at Rolesville High and was the head football coach for three seasons.
The lawsuit says the plaintiff, identified only as Jane Doe, was a ninth-grade student assigned to a class last school year taught by Rackley.
On or about Nov. 14, 2025, the lawsuit says, the freshman remained in Rackley’s classroom after class to assist in straightening up the room. While in the classroom, the lawsuit says, Rackley “reached inside Plaintiff’s shirt and groped and grabbed Plaintiff’s breasts.”
As the student attempted to walk to the front of the classroom, the lawsuit says, Rackley “physically lifted Plaintiff off the ground, grabbed and groped her buttocks, lifted Plaintiff’s shirt to expose her breasts, and again touched and groped her breasts.”
The lawsuit says the incident caused the student to transfer to another school.
The lawsuit alleges that Rackley “was known around Rolesville High School to be overly affectionate and touchy with other female students.” The lawsuit accuses Wake of negligence in failing to properly supervise Rackley.
The family is seeking more than $25,000 in compensatory damages from the district as well as punitive damages against both Rackley and the district.
Rackley didn’t teach rest of school year
Rolesville police records show an incident alleging sexual offense — molestation was reported at Rolesville High on Nov. 14. The incident report lists the case status as “unfounded” as of Jan. 12.
According to Wake, Rackley did not return to duties and remained in paid status from Nov. 18 to June 15. Wake says Rackley did not teach or coach and was not at the school during that seven-month time period. His resignation was effective June 15.
The Lanier Law Group, the legal firm representing the plaintiff, did not return multiple voicemails and emails from The N&O requesting comment. The law firm has filed multiple lawsuits over the past year accusing the school district of failing to protect students from sexual abuse on campus.
Member of Duke’s football program
Several months after the alleged incident — but before the lawsuit was filed — Rackley announced in April he was leaving Rolesville High to become director of player development for Duke’s football program.
The university’s athletic website says Rackley “helps student-athletes stay organized, navigate their personal lives and prepare for their upcoming careers.” The website says he also assists in Duke’s recruiting operation.
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