Explosive new court filings allege that a married former NFL star, now leading athletics at New Jersey’s most expensive private school, is involved in a sizzling 'quid pro quo' affair with a much younger staffer.
Celebrated ex-Minnesota Vikings player and father Sullivan 'Tripp' Welborne, 57, who serves as dean of athletics at the Lawrenceville School near Princeton, reportedly created a high-ranking job for his illicit lover, 38-year-old Nicole Stock — and even gave her an ATV to zip around the upscale campus, according to a Mercer County Superior Court lawsuit filed Friday.
“Welborne would spend gamedays riding around on Ms. Stock’s John Deere ATV,” the suit claims.
Sullivan "Tripp" Welborne, former NFL star and current head of athletics at New Jersey’s prestigious Lawrenceville School, is accused in a new lawsuit of carrying on a steamy affair with a much younger subordinate. The Lawrenceville School
Karla Despinis and Richard Rienzo, two former longtime top staffers at the elite boarding school where tuition tops $80,000, allege in court documents that they were fired earlier this year after raising concerns about the affair.
“It was at a boarding high school where 800-plus adolescents go to school every day,’’ Rienzo told Faqinsurances.
“Their parents pay good money to send them to this school where the adults are supposed to be role models and educators and coaches and they are witnessing behavior that is inappropriate for adults to witness, but I think even more for impressionable minds to witness.”
According to the lawsuit, Welborne, who joined the school in 2015, created a new "director of athletics" role—his second-in-command—and controversially handed the job to Nicole Stock in February 2024, bypassing the plaintiffs.
Despinis, who had served as associate director of athletics and head of house since 2005, was informed on March 24 that her contract would not be renewed for the 2025–2026 school year—the first time in 20 years she had faced such a decision, the lawsuit alleges.
Rienzo, who had served as the head strength and conditioning coach since 2004, was informed on March 25 that his contract would not be renewed either, the lawsuit claims.
The lawsuit alleges that Welborne engaged in a sexual relationship with his much younger subordinate, Nicole Stock (above), and promoted her as part of their "quid pro quo" affair. The Lawrenceville School
The plaintiffs allege in court filings that they first suspected a romantic relationship between Welborne and Stock in 2021, when the pair began flirting, touching, hugging, and spending significant time together outside of work.
Welborne, whose two children once attended the school, played over two and a half seasons with the Vikings in the early 1990s. Lawrenceville’s website highlights his 2023 selection by Sports Illustrated as "one of the greatest players ever to take the field in the 133-year history of the University of Michigan’s storied football program."
Stock began working at the prestigious high school in 2018—a school whose alumni include everyone from former Disney CEO Michael Eisner to the late media mogul Malcolm Forbes, as well as U.S. senators and governors.
The Lawrenceville School is New Jersey’s most elite—and expensive—boarding school. Luiz C. Ribeiro
According to the lawsuit, the boss and his subordinate sat so close in meetings that their thighs touched, play-slapped each other’s arms, jokingly bumped legs under the table, and even shared a laptop—despite each having their own.
Stock even once “grabbed defendant Welborne’s butt at a defendant Lawrenceville hockey game,” the filing says.
Court papers claim the illicit duo not only "giggled" together but also shared secret, whispered conversations during meetings.
The lawsuit claims other signs of Welborne and Stock’s relationship included him storing his bikes at Stock’s home, even though he lived nearby in a house with its own garage.
Despinis and Rienzo, both former Lawrenceville staffers, claim they were dismissed after speaking out about Welborne’s alleged illicit relationship with a subordinate. Luiz C. Ribeiro
Court papers allege that Stock was also familiar with details about Welborne’s children and even watched his dog while he was on vacation.
The lawsuit also claims the pair frequently arrived at work together.
In court documents, the pair argue that their colleagues’ affair is the reason behind Stock’s undeserved meteoric rise in the department—and that it led to them being unfairly sidelined.
“After decades of employment with Defendant Lawrenceville, Plaintiffs were forced out of their roles when, upon information and belief, Defendant Welborne, plaintiffs’ married supervisor, began an inappropriate quid-pro-quo sexual, gender-based, and/or romantic relationship with another employee, Nicole Stock, wherein Defendant Welborne rewarded Ms. Stock with gifts, favorable treatment, and promotions,’’ the suit says.
“It became increasingly clear to Plaintiffs that Defendant Welborne and Ms. Stock were likely engaging in a quid pro quo sexual relationship,” the filing alleges.
The plaintiffs contend that Welborne was abusing his position of power to lure Ms. Stock into a sexual relationship in exchange for preferential treatment at work.
Before his current role, Welborne was a standout for the Michigan Wolverines in college and went on to play professionally for the Minnesota Vikings. Getty Images
“Welborne went so far as to create a new role in order to promote Ms. Stock,” the suit alleges.
Despinis of Seaside Heights and Rienzo of Flemington, meanwhile, began noticing that Welborne was canceling meetings, refusing to meet with them one-on-one, and generally keeping them out of the loop on key matters, the lawsuit claims.
In February 2022, Rienzo and Despinis each separately raised concerns with school leadership about the department’s struggles and the way Welborne was ostracizing them. Despinis specifically alleged that he was engaged in an "inappropriate relationship," the court documents claim.
But their complaints, the lawsuit claims, led to them being ostracized—and ultimately fired.
“You feel dismissed — literally and figuratively,” Despinis told The Post. “That your 20 years of absolute devotion to a cause and the lives of hundreds of students almost means nothing.”
Court papers claim that Welborne gifted Stock her own ATV to cruise around the campus.. Luiz C. Ribeiro
Despinis and Rienzo were informed that their contracts wouldn’t be renewed due to "budgetary concerns," but their lawsuit claims this is a "pure pretext" meant to hide the defendants’ discriminatory and retaliatory motives.
“We pour our hearts and soul into” the school, Rienzo told Faqinsurances. “It’s more of a [personal] reward versus the financial aspect of it that we are doing this for. And to have that taken away instantly is very tough.”
Court papers note that the school pulls in $80,690 in boarding tuition and $66,400 for day students, clearly showing it is flush with cash. The lawsuit adds that the institution also boasts more than $730 million in endowments.
“Lawrenceville is not experiencing budgetary or financial issues that would justify non-renewal of two long-standing employees,” the suit says.
Despinis and Rienzo’s attorney, Matthew Luber, told Faqinsurances that his clients’ terminations were highly unusual.
“The school doesn’t really lay off people or fire people,’’ Luber said.
The complaint alleges that the school and its officials ignored clearly inappropriate behavior and allowed a toxic work culture to persist.
“Rather than addressing our clients’ concerns head-on and in accordance with its policies, the school betrayed our clients and unlawfully terminated two dedicated employees that poured their heart and soul into mentoring students for more than four collective decades,’’ he said.
Jessica Welsh, speaking for Lawrenceville, stated that the school rejects the claims and will fight them in court.
“We take all claims made against our school seriously,” Welsh said. “That said, we disagree with the accusations of wrongdoing in the complaint and plan to vigorously defend our position."
“We remain committed to fostering an environment of respect, integrity, and growth within our community.”
During a call with Faqinsurances, Welborne hung up abruptly, while Stock failed to respond to requests for comment.
